,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dhfd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bc1 #bjbf,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 and ,mr4 ,booker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to direct a study on paraprofessionals and education support staff4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,providing ,understanding of ,paraprofessionals in ,learning ,act or the ,,pupil ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,,esea ,the terms professional development1 ,secretary1 and ,state have the meanings given the terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,education support staff ,the term education support staff 7also sometimes known as classified school employees or education support professionals7 includes professionals who work in early childhood education settings or schools that serve children in prekindergarten through grade #ab in clerical and administrative services1 transportation services1 food and nutrition services1 custodial and maintenance services1 health and student services1 technical services1 and skilled trades4 7#c7 ,paraprofessional ,the term paraprofessional has the meaning given that term in section #cbja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gjaa74 #c4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,paraprofessionals and education support staff are invaluable members of the education system and school community4 7#b7 ,more than #b1jjj1jjj paraprofessionals and education support staff are the frontline workers who transform public elementary and secondary schools in the ,united ,states from brick and mortar buildings to places of learning and support for more than #ed1jjj1jjj students across the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,many paraprofessionals and education support staff are1 as a matter of practice1 laid off at the end of each school year and rehired annually1 and lack job security4 7#d7 ,over #ejj1jjj paraprofessionals provide essential support for children with disabilities to access a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment4 7#e7 ,while paraprofessionals and education support staff are often the most diverse subset of school employees1 are more likely to have grown up in the communities they serve1 and are trusted school community members for many students and parents1 the voices of paraprofessionals and education support staff are not always reflected in school policies4 #d4 ,study on the paraprofessional and education support staff workforce 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall seek to enter into a contract with the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine to conduct a study examining the paraprofessional and education support staff workforce that serve children in prekindergarten through grade #ab in the ,united ,states enrolled at public elementary schools or secondary schools4 ,such study shall contain the elements described in subsection 7b7 and shall assess the characteristics1 roles1 effectiveness1 preparation1 compensation1 and career pathways of paraprofessionals and education support staff1 as well as the policies and investments that shape the paraprofessional and education support staff workforce4 7b7 ,elements ,the study described in subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 examine-- 7,a7 the demographic1 educational1 and professional characteristics of the paraprofessional and education support staff workforce that serve children in prekindergarten through grade #ab2 7,b7 pathways into the paraprofessional and education support staff roles and patterns of recruitment1 retention1 and tenure2 and 7,c7 minimum qualification and credentialing requirements1 including variations across ,states and local educational agencies and compliance with the certification and licensure requirements of section #aaaa7;g77#b77;,j7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;g77#b77;,j771 and for paraprofessionals serving children with disabilities1 compliance with section #fab7;a77#ad77;,b7 of the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adab7;a77#ad77;,b772 7#b7 review the roles and responsibilities that paraprofessionals and education support staff assume across prekindergarten through grade #ab settings and student populations2 7#c7 evaluate the available evidence on the impact of paraprofessional and education support staff on student academic1 social-emotional1 and behavioral outcomes1 and identify the conditions under which paraprofessionals and education support staff are most effective1 including considerations of training1 supervision1 role clarity1 and instructional context2 7#d7 analyze compensation structures1 including salaries1 benefits1 and employment conditions1 and document variation across ,states1 local educational agencies1 and school contexts1 and identify evidence-informed approaches to improving compensation1 stability1 and overall job quality2 7#e7 assess the availability1 quality1 and effectiveness of professional development opportunities for paraprofessionals and education support staff1 and identify strategies to strengthen those opportunities2 7#f7 examine career advancement pathways1 including model programs and policies that support progression to certified teaching and other educational roles2 7#g7 identify ,federal1 ,state1 and local policy levers and investments that influence the recruitment1 preparation1 effectiveness1 advancement1 and retention of the paraprofessional and education support staff workforce1 and recommend actionable strategies to strengthen and sustain such workforce in ways that support educational quality and student outcomes2 7#h7 identify data gaps and areas where additional research is needed2 7#i7 with respect to each classification established under subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 analyze the average starting salary for each such classification and the average salary for each such classification2 and 7,b7 compare those starting and average salaries by classification and location1 to the cost of living or livable wages for the respective locations in which those education support staff and paraprofessionals reside2 7#aj7 examine relevant employment models and workforce arrangements1 including-- 7,a7 the use and prevalence of contracted1 privatized1 or outsourced education support staff and paraprofessionals2 and 7,b7 the implications of those employment models and workforce arrangements on workforce stability1 training1 supervision1 and working conditions1 the alignment of those models and arrangements with school goals1 and the effects of those models and arrangements on educational quality and student outcomes2 and 7#aa7 make recommendations for ,congress1 ,federal agencies1 ,states1 local educational agencies1 and other relevant stakeholders1 based on the findings of the study4 7c7 ,position classifications ,in carrying out the study under this section1 the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine shall establish classifications for the different education support staff and paraprofessional positions1 and with respect to each element of the study1 as described in subsection 7b71 disaggregate data based on those classifications1 to the extent practicable4 7d7 ,report ,the agreement under subsection 7a7 shall direct the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine to complete the study under this section1 and transmit to ,congress and make publicly available a report on the results of the study1 not later than #bd months after the date of entry into the agreement4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #b1jjj1jjj4