A position statement of the Keystone State Reading Association

THE USE OF TITLE I AIDES

The Keystone State Reading Association recommends that youngsters who are reading disabled be afforded the services of a certified reading specialist either directly or via the teaming of a reading specialist with the student’s classroom teacher.  KSRA further recommends that the state continue to hold fast to its policy of (1) having Title I aides provide guided practice of skills and strategies that have been taught by qualified, certified professionals and, in no cases, provide the initial instruction, and (2) requiring supervision of the ideas by certified reading specialists.

The Association acknowledges the concern of the International Reading Association having to do with the escalating use of untrained aides of Title I programs.  The Association shares that concern

but does not view the use of aides in Title I as a major problem in the state of Pennsylvania, largely because the Division of Federal Programs in Pennsylvania’s Department of Education has, over the years, been diligent in its insistence that:

    1.     Title I aides be used to support instruction provided by classroom teachers and/or reading specialists, not to provide instruction and

    2.     Title I aides provide such support only under the direct and substantial supervision of a classroom teacher and/or certified reading specialist.

Most Title I aides in Pennsylvania have been provided with training appropriate to the support role.  In states where that has not been the case, KSRA perceives that the training program being developed by the International Reading Association will be most beneficial, to the aides, the Title I programs and, most important of all, to the students.

In all states, LEAs (Local Education Associations) need to be made aware that the training of aides is training for a support role.  In no way should that training be construed as providing aides with the expertise necessary to deal with the complex interventions that most Title I children need, particularly with the emphasis on acceleration (as opposed to remediation) in the new regulations.  KSRA encourages Ira to stress the support status of aides and the importance of the involvement of the trained reading professional as it distributes any training materials for Title I aides.

1994

©2008 Keystone State Reading Association

Last Modified 07/17/2008    Website Coordinator: Eric C. MacDonald