Paraprofessionals
Thousands of paraprofessionals belong to AFT Massachusetts—men and women who provide vital assistance in every aspect of the teaching profession, from working closely with classroom teachers, to assisting in libraries and media departments, to offering specialized one-on-one supervision to students with special needs. As paraprofessionals, you're part of a nationwide network of more than 335,000 AFT members who make our schools run.
AFT Massachusetts has worked hard on behalf of paraprofessionals to ensure that you get the rights and respect that you deserve. In 2003, we helped establish the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program to provide tuition waivers to paras who plan to teach in the public schools.
AFT Massachusetts/Boston Teachers Union State-Wide Paraprofessional Conference
Jenna Fitzgerald, Paraprofesional Field Representative of the Boston Teachers Union, organizes an annual statewide conference for paraprofessionals. The conference this year was held on April 5th at the Boston Teachers Union headquarters in Boston. See pictures of attendees.
Useful Links
AFT's Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel
Paraprofessional Tuition Program
Applications for the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program for the 2007 - 2008 school year are now available. (Please be patient the file is very large so it is very slow downloading). The AFT Massachusetts sponsored the legislation creating the program and the legislature has continued to fund it.
The Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to paraprofessionals who wish to pursue teacher education degrees and become certified to teach in a Massachusetts Public School. Paraprofessionals who enroll in a teacher education program at a Massachusetts public or private college or university may qualify for a grant for full-time or part-time study during the 2007-2008 academic year including summer sessions. The grant awards will vary depending on the college rates and the student's enrollment status (number of credits taken). Information and the application form are available from the Board of Higher Education.
AFT Massachusetts sponsored the origina legislation creating this program and worked hard to pass the legislation and to secure continued funding to benefit paraprofessionals.
The completed application, as well as, the Federal Financial Assistance Form must be completed by the individual applicant and sent to the Board of Higher Education.
As an added precaution, the AFT Massachusetts urges paraprofessionals to send their completed application materials to the Board of Higher Education. Although the application form cites a priority date of August 1, 2007, the application can be submitted at any time.
As an added precaution, AFT Massachusetts urges paraprofessionals to send their completed application materials to the Board of Higher Education by registered mail and to keep a copy of all materials that are submitted.