Date of Award:
8-2025
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling
Committee Chair(s)
Willa (Wilhelmina) van Dijk
Committee
Willa (Wilhelmina) van Dijk
Committee
Sophia D'Agostino
Committee
Audrey N. Hoffmann
Abstract
Paraeducators are an important part of the school system and vital to the success of students with disabilities. Often, they face many barriers and challenges in getting the necessary training to be confident and effective. This study examines the barriers paraeducators face such as, cost, lack of employer support, and training that are not relevant, along with the challenges the state level offices of education face providing training to paraeducators. From surveying 108 paraeducators from ten states and interviewing state education professionals from four states, the research identified financial barriers as a challenge for paraeducators, matching challenges such as lack of funding for the state offices to support training paraeducators. The findings of this study can assist schools, state offices, and policy makers build effective professional development and support systems for paraeducators to be effectively trained to provide high quality services for students with special needs.
Checksum
4214cb6eef8230f4d4f53c897761b2d4
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Lema, Laura, "Paraeducators, A Valuable Support in Special Education: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Paraeducator Barriers to Professional Development and Self-Efficacy" (2025). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present. 615.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd2023/615
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