Panel lays over bill to create competency-based pathways for paraprofessionals

The House Education Policy Committee heard House File 30,67, which would establish competency-based pathways for instructional paraprofessionals, and adopted a DE1 amendment clarifying the bill’s scope applies to both Title I and special education paraprofessionals. The committee laid the bill over for further consideration.

Supporters—including school leaders, SEIU and administrators—said the bill responds to a statewide paraprofessional staffing crisis by recognizing a set of 20 professional competencies as an alternative pathway to meet federal ‘‘highly qualified’’ requirements. Dr. Alexis Mann, representing the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education, told members the measure preserves standards while expanding the pool of qualified candidates and would keep about 4,800 paraprofessionals working in Minnesota schools.

Chris Stinson, policy director for SEIU Local 284, argued standardized testing and degree requirements disproportionately screen out otherwise capable candidates and cited racial disparities on existing assessments as a driver for a competency rubric. Stinson said the working group reached labor and management agreement on the competencies and that funding and training investments are available to help paraprofessionals meet those standards.

Members requested clarifications about whether the competency pathway satisfies federal Title I and IDEA requirements; MDE staff said federal rules place those requirements in different parts of the code and that the department is reviewing compliance and will provide additional guidance. Lawmakers also asked how districts would assess competency in practice; witnesses pointed to rubrics and guidance developed by the work group and PELSB materials referenced in testimony.

Committee members adopted the DE1 amendment and laid the bill over for future action so staff and agencies can resolve outstanding compliance and implementation questions.

The layover preserves the committee’s ability to refine federal-compliance language and technical details before advancing the bill.