20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(14) (Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, p. 79)
(14) Personnel Qualifications.
(A) In General. The State educational agency has established and maintains qualifications to ensure that personnel necessary to carry out this part are appropriately and adequately prepared and trained, including that those personnel have the content knowledge and skills to serve children with disabilities.
(B) Related Services Personnel and Paraprofessionals. The qualifications under subparagraph (A) include qualifications for related services personnel and paraprofessionals that
(i) are consistent with any State-approved or State- recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements that apply to the professional discipline in which those personnel are providing special education or related services;
(ii) ensure that related services personnel who deliver services in their discipline or profession meet the requirements of clause (i) and have not had certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis; and
(iii) allow paraprofessionals and assistants who are appropriately trained and supervised, in accordance with State law, regulation, or written policy, in meeting the requirements of this part to be used to assist in the provision of special education and related services under this part to children with disabilities.
(C) Qualifications for Special Education Teachers. The qualifications described in subparagraph (A) shall ensure that each person employed as a special education teacher in the State who teaches elementary school, middle school, or secondary school is highly qualified by the deadline established in Section 6319(a)(2) of this title.
(D) Policy. In implementing this section, a State shall adopt a policy that includes a requirement that local educational agencies in the State take measurable steps to recruit, hire, train, and retain highly qualified personnel to provide special education and related services under this part to children with disabilities.
(E) Rule of Construction. Notwithstanding any other individual right of action that a parent or student may maintain under this part, nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to create a right of action on behalf of an individual student for the failure of a particular State educational agency or local educational agency staff person to be highly qualified, or to prevent a parent from filing a complaint about staff qualifications with the State educational agency as provided for under this part.
This is what the Federal Regulations say about requirements for a continuum of placements under IDEA.
Section 300.115 Continuum of alternative placements. (Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, p. 208)
(b) the continuum required in paragraph (a) of this section must-
(1) Include the alternative placements listed in the definition of special education under Section 300.38 (instruction in regular classes, special classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions); and
(2) Make provision for supplementary services (such as resource room or itinerant instruction) to be provided in conjunction with regular class placement.) (Authority 20 U.S.C. 1412 (a)(5))
Paraprofessionals are not Teachers
A paraprofessional's time alone with students in the classroom cannot count towards consultant teacher time as required by the IEP. A paraprofessional is clearly not a teacher.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/parapro.qual.htm#sthash.RH8asnTL.dpuf
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