Employment Standards For Additional Support Personnel

(1) Educational Assistants. Educational assistants shall, at a minimum, have a high school diploma, or a high school equivalency credential approved by the State Board, and shall show demonstrable proficiency in reading and writing skills. (a) Educational assistants who have completed one (1) or more years of college shall be given preference in employment. (b) Educational assistants shall only be employed in non-teaching positions and shall be subject to direct supervision of licensed teachers when directly involved in the instructional program. (c) If a licensed teacher to whom an educational assistant has been assigned is required to be absent from the classroom, the educational assistant may assume responsibility for the classroom in lieu of a substitute teacher. However, no educational assistant shall assume responsibility for the classroom for more than three (3) consecutive school days. (2) Educational Interpreters. All individuals employed by LEAs or charter schools to provide educational interpreting for students who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing must hold a valid Tennessee School Services Personnel license with the appropriate endorsement or must meet the following employment standards: (a) All non-licensed educational interpreters employed by an LEA or charter school prior to January 1, 2021, shall satisfy the following requirements by January 1, 2021: 1. Obtain a passing score on the written portion of the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA); and 2. Obtain a minimum score of 3.0 on the performance assessment portion of the EIPA. (b) All non-licensed educational interpreters employed by an LEA or charter school on January 1, 2021 or after, shall satisfy the following requirements: 1. Hold at a minimum an associate’s degree; 2. Obtain a passing score on the written portion of the EIPA; and 3. Obtain a minimum score of 3.0 on the performance assessment portion of the EIPA. (c) Compensation of non-licensed individuals providing educational interpreting shall be determined by the LEA or charter school and shall take into consideration the level of preparation, training, and work requirements.