Report
A Descriptive Portrait of the Paraeducator Workforce in Washington State. Working Paper No. 283-0423
| Title: | A Descriptive Portrait of the Paraeducator Workforce in Washington State. Working Paper No. 283-0423 |
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| Authors: | Theobald, Roddy, Kaler, Lindsey, Bettini, Elizabeth, Jones, Nathan, National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research (CALDER) at American Institutes for Research (AIR) |
| Source: | National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research (CALDER). 2023. |
| Abstract: | We use over 25 years of longitudinal data from Washington state to provide a descriptive portrait of the paraeducator workforce in the state. Paraeducators are more racially and ethnically diverse than special education teachers, particularly in the last decade, and tend to be less experienced. They also have full-time salaries that are about half of the average special education teacher salary. Paraeducator-to-student ratios have decreased over time in the state, but they are higher in schools serving more students of color. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, paraeducator attrition rates from the state's public school workforce have increased dramatically over time; for example, the paraeducator attrition rate after the 2021-22 school year (23%) was over twice as high as the attrition rate after the 2008-09 school year (8%). These findings have implications for how policymakers and school leaders should approach decision-making related to the paraeducator workforce, as well as how researchers might approach further research with this group of educators. |
| Language: | English |
| Availability: | National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research. American Institutes for Research, 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007. Tel: 202-403-5796; Fax: 202-403-6783; e-mail: info@caldercenter.org; Web site: https://caldercenter.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 37 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Institute of Education Sciences (ED) |
| Contract Number: | R324A170016 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Paraprofessional School Personnel, Individual Characteristics, Ethnic Diversity, Salaries, Teacher Student Ratio, Minority Group Students, Persistence, Faculty Mobility, Racial Composition, Diversity (Faculty), Labor Turnover, Experience, Public Schools, Geographic Location |
| Geographic Terms: | Washington |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| IES Funded: | Yes |
| Entry Date: | 2023 |
| Accession Number: | ED628819 |
| Database: | ERIC |
Availability