Beyond Recruitment: Supporting Paraprofessionals On Their Path To Special Education Certification

The severe lack of certified and well-trained special educators presents significant challenges to providing educational programming for students with disabilities. Grow Your Own (GYO) programs targeting paraprofessionals have risen as promising solutions for recruitment and retention. However, paraprofessionals often face financial and personal barriers when pursuing higher education. This qualitative case study examined what motivates paraprofessionals to return to college, how they balance work, school, and personal responsibilities and how they perceive their academic journeys in pursuit of their goal. We interviewed four paraprofessionals who earned their special education teaching degrees using tuition support funding from a statewide GYO initiative. Findings indicate that paraprofessionals are attuned to time management in balancing their lives while seeking flexible programs that support their learning needs and limit financial barriers that inhibit degree completion.