A. The Oklahoma Legislature recognizes that public school paraprofessionals play an important role in educating school children and in assisting teachers. The Legislature further recognizes the increasing role of public school paraprofessionals in the school system in light of teacher shortages. To achieve the goal of excellence for all persons who have an impact on student learning, it is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature that public school paraprofessionals be afforded career opportunities and economic incentives through a career development program. B. The State Board of Education shall adopt a program for the career development of public school paraprofessionals. The purpose of the program is to provide to public school paraprofessionals a system of career development which is based upon education and training advancement to encourage excellence among public school paraprofessionals. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require public school paraprofessionals to participate in the career development program. C. The board of education of a school district shall have authority to extend an existing contract with a public school paraprofessional that provides for the payment of compensation for paraprofessional services rendered for the same time period during which the paraprofessional is also assigned to the school district for practice teaching as a student teacher. D. For the purposes of this section, a public school paraprofessional is an employee of a school district whose position is either instructional in nature, or who delivers other direct services to students and/or their parents. A public school paraprofessional serves in a position for which a teacher or another professional has the ultimate responsibility for the design, implementation, and evaluation of the individual educational programs or related services and student performance.
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