Below is a list of courses designed specifically for paraprofessionals, substitutes and other support staff. However, there are many courses in other categories that you can take to enhance your role within the school. View this document for a list of such courses, designed for all educators and handpicked as applicable for paraprofessionals. 

course description

PASS - Paraeducators Achieving Standards Successfully is a nationally-developed course designed to assist paraeducators in meeting the requirements for the federal Every Child Succeeds Act (ESSA), by demonstrating competencies in the areas where they will be assisting students. According to section 1111 of ESSA, (g)(2)(J), paraeducators must have one of the following: 1) attended two years of college; 2) have a two-year degree; or 3) must have passed a district developed test showing competency in the areas where they will be assisting students. The person must have graduated high school or equivalent.

The area covered in the PASS course include Reading and Math, with both areas having a nationally developed assessment built directly into the course, assuring that paraeducators who take the course can demonstrate evidence of content mastery to their local districts and the state of Montana. 

Potential participants should verify with districts in which they are employed or seek to be employed that the district accepts the PASS course to demonstrate evidence of content mastery for this purpose.

Visit the registration site or contact Jami Wood for more information: (406) 442-4250 or 800-398-0826

Register and pay with MFPE by January 25th. You will then receive an enrollment key to access the course.

Created by MFPE, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and a team of highly-trained Montana paraprofessional educators

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course and learned so much valuable information to help me in my duties as a para-professional." —Elementary paraeducator, Butte, MT

user rating User Rating: 3.7 3.7 stars"

Type: Facilitated
Audience: Paraeducators
OPI Professional Development Units: 30 hours
Enrollment Opens: 9/17/23
Course Dates: 10/2/23 - 11/12/23
course description

PASS - Paraeducators Achieving Standards Successfully is a nationally-developed course designed to assist paraeducators in meeting the requirements for the federal Every Child Succeeds Act (ESSA), by demonstrating competencies in the areas where they will be assisting students. According to section 1111 of ESSA, (g)(2)(J), paraeducators must have one of the following: 1) attended two years of college; 2) have a two-year degree; or 3) must have passed a district developed test showing competency in the areas where they will be assisting students. The person must have graduated high school or equivalent.

The area covered in the PASS course include Reading and Math, with both areas having a nationally developed assessment built directly into the course, assuring that paraeducators who take the course can demonstrate evidence of content mastery to their local districts and the state of Montana. 

Potential participants should verify with districts in which they are employed or seek to be employed that the district accepts the PASS course to demonstrate evidence of content mastery for this purpose.

Visit the registration site or contact Diane Fladmo or Jami Wood for more information: (406) 442-4250 or 800-398-0826

Register and pay with MFPE by January 25th. You will then receive an enrollment key to access the course.

Created by MFPE, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and a team of highly-trained Montana paraprofessional educators

Only for participants who have registered with MFPE and completed the PASS: Reading section will be allowed in this section.

"Was a great course and I learned a lot from it that I can take with me as a para to help students with math." —Paraeducator, Missoula, MT area

user rating User Ratings: 3.6 out of 4.0

Type: Facilitated
Audience: Closed Group
OPI Professional Development Units: 30 hours
Enrollment Opens: 2/12/24
Course Dates: 3/11/24-4/14/24
Note: Enrollment closes the first day of the course or when the cap is met.
course description

Paraeducators must understand individual student needs for the particular level of support, the degree of accommodation or modification, and instructional method that would best facilitate learning. This course is designed to provide these instructional strategies for use in inclusive classrooms, resource rooms, and self-contained settings.

Type of Course Self-paced course course length  OPI Professional Development Units Audience Paraeducators
user rating New course, data coming soon!

Type: Self-paced
Audience: Paraeducators
OPI Professional Development Units: 6 hours
course description

This course will address professionalism, legal aspects, classroom management, and strategies to successfully serve as a substitute or guest teacher. It is designed to meet the three-hour training requirement described in Administrative Rules of Montana 10.55.716.

Created by the Northwest Montana Co-Op and Colet Bartow (OPI).

"This course is very well set up and has a lot of good resources that I didn't know about!" —Pre-service teacher, Great Falls, MT

User rating User Ratings: 3.6  3.6 stars

Type: Self-paced
Audience: Substitutes
OPI Professional Development Units: 3 hours
course description

This course is designed to provide a basic introduction to special education and the needs of students who have disabilities. The content consists of introductory material regarding the legal and historical foundations of special education, human growth and development, the nature of disabilities, and an introduction to the basic human needs that para-educators and educators must address.  

Created by Anne Carpenter, Program Support Specialist at OPI

user rating New course, data coming soon!

Type: Self-paced
Audience: All Educators
OPI Professional Development Units: 2
course description

This course is designed to help paraeducators work effectively on a team. The course consists of introductory material regarding teamwork, delineation of roles and responsibilities, classroom instruction, and behavior management. Can be taken by individual paras and teachers, but is most effective when teams take the course together.  

This course is for paraeducators or para/teacher teams.

"I will definitely be sharing with our team and recommending this course for future learning. Great job! Keep up the good work." —Paraeducator, Miles City

user rating New course! Waiting for data. 

Type: Self-paced
Audience: Paraeducators
OPI Professional Development Units: 3 hours