If you are a paraeducator who is interested in enrolling
in college, the information on this page will answer the
most frequent questions people have about college attendance.
Click on the links provided to get more specific information
about college programs and financial assistance.
What skills do I need to go to college?
Academic Skills
Academic success is one of the most important factors in
attending college. There are many skills involved with doing
well in school and they all take practice. There is no magic
involved in being a great student. It takes hard work to
acquire academic skills and you have to use these skills
regularly to hone and sharpen them. Some of the skills necessary
for college level work are:
- Basic Skills ( Reading, Writing, Math)
- Time Management
- Test Preparation
- Study Skills
- Concentration and focus (Source: http://meoc.maine.edu/)
Personal Skills
Succeeding in college can require many different skills.
You will certainly need the academic skills you have learned
prior to college, but you will also need personal skills.
You will need to know when and how to be assertive, how to
deal with stress, how to solve problems, and how to adapt
to change. (Source: http://meoc.maine.edu/)
Student Support Services
The good news is that at many colleges offer a wide array
of student services that will help you build and maintain
academic skills. Most of these services at college are free
of charge or low cost. Student services offered at most colleges
are:
- Tutoring and Writing Centers
- Personal Counseling
- Academic Advising
- Career Counseling
Why should I attend college?
A college degree can provide you with many opportunities
in life. A college education can mean:
- Greater Knowledge
A college education will increase your
ability to understand developments in science and in society,
to think abstractly and critically, to express thoughts
clearly in speech and in writing, and to make wise decisions.
These skills are useful both on and off the job.
- More Money
A person who attends college generally earns
more than a person who does not. For example, in 1997,
a person with a college degree from a four-year college
earned approximately $18,000 more in that year than a person
who did not go to college. Someone with a two-year associate's
degree also tends to earn more than a high school graduate.
- Greater Potential
A college education can help increase
your understanding of the community, the Nation, and the
world -- as you explore interests, discover new areas of
knowledge, consider lifelong goals, and become a responsible
citizen.
- More Job Opportunities
The world is changing rapidly.
Many jobs rely on new technology and already require more
brain power than muscle power. In your working life, more
and more jobs will require education beyond high school.
With a college education, you will have more jobs from
which to choose. (Source: http://www.ache.state.al.us/Index.htm)
What types of colleges exist?
There are many higher education options in the United States.
You can learn about the different options available to you
and find a college well-suited to your needs.
There are two basic types of post-secondary education options:
- Community, Technical, and Junior Colleges
Many kinds of
colleges offer programs that are less than four years in
length. Most of these schools offer education and training
programs that are two years in length or less. The programs
often lead to a certificate, an associate of arts (A.A.)
degree, an associate of science (A.S.) degree, an associate
of applied science (A.A.S.) degree. or an associate of general
studies degree (A.G.S.). AA, AS, and AGS degrees are usually
designed to help a student complete the first two years of
college and then transfer to a four-year college or university.
AAS degrees and certificate programs are designed to train
students for a specific career and the courses don’t
generally transfer to a four-year college or university.
The courses taken for the AA, AS, or AGS count toward a BA
or BS degree program. Two-year colleges such as community
colleges often operate under an "open admissions" policy
that can vary from school to school. At some institutions, "open
admissions" means that anyone who has a high school
diploma or GED certificate can enroll. At other schools,
anyone over 18 years of age can enroll. Some schools have
programs that allow open admissions, while other programs
in the same school -- particularly in scientific or technical
subjects -- may have further admission requirements. Because
requirements vary widely, it is important to check into schools
and programs individually. (Source: http://www.ache.state.al.us/Index.htm)
- Four-Year Colleges and Universities
These
schools usually offer a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor
of science (B.S.) degree. Some also offer graduate and
professional degrees. These institutions may be either
public or private. Four-Year Colleges: These are post-secondary
schools that provide four-year educational programs in the
arts and sciences. These colleges confer bachelor's degrees.
Universities: These are post secondary schools that include
a college of arts and/or sciences, one or more programs of
graduate studies, and one or more professional schools. Universities
confer bachelor's degrees and graduate, master's and Ph.D.
degrees. Many universities also confer professional degrees,
for example, in law or medicine. When a student earns a bachelor's
degree it means that he or she has taken courses in a broad
range of subjects, (usually called general studies, core,
or similar names) and has studied one subject area in greater
depth. (This one area is called the student's "major.” A
bachelor's degree is usually required before a student can
begin studying for a graduate degree. A graduate degree is
usually earned through two or more years of advanced studies
beyond four years of college. This might be a master's or
a doctoral degree in a particular field or a specialized
degree required in certain professions such as law, social
work, architecture, or medicine. (Source: http://www.ache.state.al.us/Index.htm)
How do I find out about college programs?
You can find out about college programs from many sources.
You can contact colleges directly. You can search the web
for information on college programs and you can check with
the Human Resources department in your school district for
information they may have on college programs in your area? Click
here to go to our paraeducator
helpful links page and find more resources about college
programs.
Career Ladder and Career Lattice Programs
In addition, there are programs designed specifically
to support paraeducators who wish to attend college. Career
Ladder programs for paraeducators are created through collaborative
efforts between school districts, community colleges, teacher
education programs, and related organizations. They are
designed to facilitate the career advancement of paraeducators
by training them to move into the professional teaching
ranks. Career lattice programs are similar collaborative
efforts but train paraeducators to be more effective in
their current roles by giving them additional skills and
knowledge to perform their current duties. Career ladder
and career lattice programs are usually funded by grants.
Most commonly, they are designed to prepare paraeducators
to work in either special education or bilingual education,
as those are areas of high need for qualified staff. However,
there are paraeducator programs across the nation that
prepares paraeducators to work in different disciplines
and program areas. The programs offered at The PAR²A
Center are just three examples of training models that
are being used to meet the needs of paraeducators in Colorado.
Click here to learn about the Career Ladder and
Career Lattice programs at The PAR²A Center.
TOP-SET*ALP
Teacher PREP
How can I prepare for college?
Learning what it takes to go to college is an important
first step in meeting your educational goals. The Educational
Opportunity Centers (EOC) program, funded by the U.S. Department
of Education, provides counseling and information on college
admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue
college. A main focus of the EOC is to counsel participants
on financial aid options and to assist in the application
process. The goal of EOC is to increase the number of adult
participants who enroll in higher education. There are 139
Educational Opportunity Centers in America serving 217,836
individuals. (Source: http://www.ed.gov/programs/trioeoc/index.html)
Services provided by the program include:
- Academic advising
- Personal counseling
- Career workshops
- Information on post secondary educational opportunities
- Information on student financial assistance
- Assistance in completing applications for admissions,
testing and financial aid
- Coordination with nearby post secondary institutions
- Media activities designed to involve and acquaint
the community with higher education opportunities
- Tutoring
- Mentoring
To find out of there is an Educational Opportunity Center
near you contact your local colleges and/or universities,
consult your local telephone listings, or do an internet
search using the keywords EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER.
How will I pay for college?
You want to go to college but you are worried about how
you will pay for it. You are not alone; most people feel
the same way. In fact, many students use cost as a major
factor in choosing which college to attend. What they do
not realize is that the more expensive schools often have
more money to give out in the form of aid, which can bring
the price close to what the less expensive schools charge.
Cost cannot be ruled out as a factor influencing your decision,
but do there is money available to help you pay your college
bills. It just takes some work on your part to identify and
apply for financial assistance.
Most students rely on a number of different financial aid
sources to pay for college. Financial aid is designed to
help you and your family pay for most of the expenses associated
with going to college. It is available to both full and part-time
students (usually defined as a student taking at least six
credit hours). In the United States, one out of every two
college students receives some form of financial aid. (Source: http://meoc.maine.edu/)
Financial aid comes from federal and state governments,
higher education institutions, private organizations, and
businesses. There are several different types of financial
aid including:
Fellowship – a scholarship or
grant awarded to a graduate student in a college or university.
Scholarship – financial aid that
usually is awarded for merit or academic achievement. A
scholarship considered gift aid and does not have to be
paid back.
Grant – a gift aid that does not
have to be paid back.
Loan – money which must be repaid. Loan
programs have varying repayment provisions.
Work Study – this program provides
jobs that enable students to earn a portion of school costs
through employment at the institution.
Whatever type of aid you use, the first step is to apply.
It is an involved process that needs to be completed accurately
and on time.
As you go through the process of applying for financial
aid, these are some terms you may encounter and their definitions:
Need – the term “need,” as
used in financial aid, usually refers to the difference between
the resources available to the student (from parent’s,
student savings and summer jobs, etc.) and the cost of attending
the student’s selected post secondary institution. The
process of determining “need” is often referred
to as a “need analysis.”
Self Help – financial resources
provided by the student.
Family Contribution – the combined
contribution reasonably expected during the enrollment period
from the student (and his or her spouse if applicable), as
well as from the student’s parents if the student
is a dependent. (Source: http://www.ache.state.al.us/Index.htmhttp://www.ache.state.al.us/Index.htm)
Financial Aid Resources
U.S. Department of Education
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – a
free form distributed by the U.S. Department of Education
to collect information used to determine a student’s
need for federal financial aid. Click here
to get the FAFSA application online http://www.fafsa.ed.gov .
Other federal agencies
State agencies
Foundations and organizations
- organizations (including professional associations)
related to your field of interest, ethnicity-based organizations,
religious organizations, community organizations, local
businesses, and civic groups
Other
- your employer
- the financial aid office at a college
- scholarships: be wary of scholarship search services
- use the reference section of your school or public
library and the Internet
What career paths are open to me in education?
- Paraeducator
Paraeducators are sometimes
also called paraprofessionals, teacher assistants, and
aides. Educational requirements for paraeducators vary
by State or school district and range from a high school
diploma to some college training, although employers increasingly
prefer applicants with some college training. Teacher assistants
with instructional responsibilities usually require more
training than do those who do not perform teaching tasks.
In addition, as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act
of 2001, teacher assistants in Title 1 schools—those
with a large proportion of students from low-income households—will
be required to meet one of three requirements: have a minimum
of 2 years of college, hold a 2-year or higher degree,
or pass a rigorous state and local assessment. A number
of 2-year and community colleges offer associate degree
programs that prepare graduates to work as teacher assistants.
The employment outlook is god for paraeducators with the
number of jobs expected to grow. (Source: http://bls.gov/oco/ocos153.htm)
- Teacher
Public school teachers must
have at least a bachelor’s degree, complete an approved
teacher education program, and be licensed. Almost all
States require applicants for a teacher’s license
to be tested for competency in basic skills, such as reading
and writing, and in teaching. Almost all also require the
teacher to exhibit proficiency in his or her subject. Excellent
job opportunities are expected as a large number of teachers
retire over the next 10 years, particularly at the secondary
school level; opportunities will vary somewhat by geographic
area and subject taught. Job prospects are even better
in special education. (Source: http://bls.gov/oco/ocos153.htm)
- Administrator
Many principal and administrator
positions require a master’s or doctoral degree and
experience in a related occupation, such as a teacher,
prior to becoming an administrator. Strong interpersonal
and communication skills are essential because much of
an administrator’s
job involves working and collaborating with others. Job
outlook is expected to be excellent because a large proportion
of education administrators are expected to retire over
the next 10 years. (Source: http://bls.gov/oco/ocos153.htm)
- Special Service Provider
Special service
providers work in schools providing services to children.
Examples are school psychologists, speech pathologists,
occupational therapists, social workers, audiologists,
and counselors. Most of these jobs require at least a Master’s
degree, and possibly a doctoral degree and some prior teaching
experience. All states required these professionals to
be licensed. Job prospects in these fields are expected
to grow faster than average for other professions. (Source: http://bls.gov/oco/ocos153.htm)
For more information on career prospects in education
click here to go to our paraeducator helpful links page.
You can search the Occupational Outlook Handbook at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ for
information on job outlook, working conditions, educational
requirements, and salaries.
