Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-127A: Public school paraprofessionals

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.