Iowa Department of Education Paraeducator

Link to the DE webpage to find the following documents:

Legal Requirements and Reports

Paraeducators Who Are Licensed Teachers 2009

Highly Qualified Paraeducator Requirements Under NCLB

Highly Qualified Paraeducator Requirements under IDEA 2004

Back to top

Guiding Practices

Paraeducator Certificate opportunities and Institutions (2006-10-25)

Appropriate Paraeducator Duties 2010

Back to top

Supporting Documents

Paraeducator Brochure: What is a Paraeducator (2006-11-03)

Paraprofessional Requirements for Iowa Schools (2011-04-22)

Requirements Flow Chart

Guide to Effective Paraeducator Practices II–2007

Paraeducators as Substitute Teachers-Update February 15, 2022

A substitute authorization allows an individual to substitute in grades PK-12. The Board of Educational Examiners has established an emergency rule to allow paraeducators employed in an Iowa public school district or non-public school who hold a paraeducator certificate with a substitute authorization as an area of concentration to be allowed to substitute outside their assigned special education classroom IF permission is granted. This permission is not intended for long-term subbing.