Sept. 3, 2005 – Education Human Resource Director, Alscess Lewis-Brown, announces that the department will offer to the ParaPro Assessment Internet-based Testing (iBT) on Monday, Sept. 26, on St. Croix and on Tuesday, Sept. 27, on St. Thomas. The examination will be administered at the curriculum centers in both districts.
"Paraprofessionals currently employed by the Department of Education and who signed up for the examination fee scholarship may call the Division of Human Resources to register for the September Exams," said Lewis-Brown. "Other individuals interested in taking the examination may register with the Division of Human Resources. The cost of the exam is $40 to be payable in money order only on the exam date. Twenty (20) slots are available on St. Croix and 12 on St. Thomas. Space will be available on a first come first serve basis."
Paraprofessionals entering the system prior to July 2001 must possess two years of college, 60 college credits, an associate degree or a Virgin Islands passing score on the ParaPro Assessment by the end of the 2005-2006 school year. Paraprofessionals hired after July 2001 will have had to have met one of the four requirements prior to being hired to be deemed highly qualified as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, as amended.
The scores on the exam range from 420 to 480. Effective July 1, 2005, the passing score for the V.I. is 466. The exam will be offered both in the pencil and paper (P&P) format and internet-Based Test (iBT) format for the upcoming 2005-2006 school year. The P&P test will be offered six times per year. The iBT will be scheduled monthly by the department throughout the 2005-2006 school year, while the P&P will be offered at the University of the Virgin Islands
The department also has study guides and internet-based online tutorials for paraprofessionals employed with the department. These study guides are available to help prepare paraprofessionals for the exam. Only current department paraprofessionals will be authorized to borrow the study guide or gain access to the online tutorials.
Interested paraprofessionals may visit the Division of Human Resources between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in both districts to sign up for the examination and to obtain study materials. No telephone sign-ups will be allowed. Individuals will be selected on a first come, first serve basis. Interested persons can contact the Division of Human Resources on St. Croix at 773-1095 extensions 356, 358 or 362 and on St. Thomas at 774-0100, extensions 3077 or 3039, for more information.
