Connecticut Program Aims to Fill Paraeducator Jobs From Within Schools

September 23, 2026 - 08:15

Connecticut's first Paraeducator Preparation Academy seeks to break down barriers that keep willing workers from the classroom.

School districts across the state have struggled for years to hire enough paraeducators, the staff members who support students with disabilities, assist in classrooms, and provide one-on-one help to children who need it most. Vacancies have forced some schools to combine roles, limit services, or ask existing staff to cover more ground than they can reasonably handle.

The new academy takes a different approach. Instead of recruiting from outside the education system, it looks at the people already working in schools, including aides, cafeteria staff, and after-school employees, and offers them a path to certification. Many of these workers already know the students, the routines, and the culture of their buildings. What they often lack is the formal training and the financial support needed to move into a paraeducator position.

That gap matters. Tuition costs, testing fees, and unpaid training hours can shut out people who would otherwise be strong candidates. The academy addresses those obstacles directly, covering expenses and scheduling classes around existing work shifts.

Supporters say the model could ease shortages while creating real career growth for workers who have been stuck in low-wage jobs. The effort also reflects a broader shift in how schools think about staffing: growing talent from within rather than searching endlessly for outsiders who may never come.