W. Va. Code R. § 126-146-5

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 126-146-5 - Service Personnel Classifications

5.1. A detailed list of service personnel classifications and definitions can be found in W. Va. Code § 18A-4-8.

5.2. Additional specific requirements for service personnel classifications.

5.2.a. Aide IV.

5.2.a.1. An Aide IV must complete 18 hours of WVBE-approved College credit at an IHE or approved institution; or 15 hours of WVBE-approved college credit at an IHE and has successfully completed an in-service training program determined at the county level to be the equivalent of three hours of college credit.

5.2.a.1.A. The approved college credit shall be related to basic skills including reading, writing, speaking, and mathematics; or career development as approved by the county.

5.2.a.1.B. If the Aide IV chooses to do the 15 hours of college credit and in-service training program, then the aide must develop an individual in-service plan with the aide's immediate supervisor, the principal of the building, and the county superintendent/designee.

5.2.a.2. The Aide IV classification is a salary classification and the final decision on eligibility rests with the employing county superintendent and county. No application or credentialing process is necessary through the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE).

5.2.b. Autism Mentor.

5.2.b.1. To be classified as an autism mentor, an employee must first classify as an Aide III as defined in W. Va. Code § 18A-4-8.

5.2.b.2. The aide must successfully complete a professional learning program related to providing instructional support to students with autism as determined and verified by the WVDE.

5.2.b.2.A. For each hour of training completed, one-half point per hour will be awarded.

5.2.b.2.B. A minimum of 15 points or 30 hours of training must be earned and verified for a candidate to meet this requirement.

5.2.b.2.C. Training is required on the use of restraints and must include prevention and de-escalation techniques with alternatives to the use of restraint. The WVDE Office of Special Education will determine the points awarded for this training after approval of properly documented training.

5.2.b.2.C.1. Training must have been completed within three years and documentation submitted to the WVDE Office of Special Education for review and consideration. Training older than three years will not be considered.

5.2.b.2.C.2. Training documentation shall include, at a minimum, the name of the training, the date of training, the number of hours, the agency providing the training, and the training sponsor's or designee's signature.

5.2.b.2.D. Upon completion of the documentation analysis, the candidate and the employing county's personnel director will receive a letter verifying whether the state requirements have been met.

5.2.b.3. The employing county is responsible for verifying:

5.2.b.3.A. two years of successful experience providing classroom instructional supports to a student with autism under the supervision of a fully certified special education teacher.

5.2.b.3.A.1. A year is defined as a minimum of 133 instructional days in any one school year and is verified at the end of the school year.

5.2.b.3.A.2. The student must be an eligible student with autism for the time the aide provided instructional supports for the experience to be counted. The student's eligibility is determined and documented by an eligibility committee in accordance with W. Va. 126CSR16, Policy 2419, Regulations for the Education of Students with Exceptionalities.

5.2.b.3.A.3. If the eligibility committee's determination for a student's eligibility has changed while the aide was providing instructional supports, the aide will receive credit only for the experience during the time the student was deemed eligible. To receive credit, the dates for the time period the aide was working with the eligible student must be documented and kept in the aide's personnel file.

5.2.b.3.B. Physical ability and stamina are necessary to complete all job tasks, including tasks related to ensuring student safety. Documentation proving physical ability and stamina will be kept in the aide's personnel file.

5.2.b.4. Upon meeting all training, experience, and physical requirements, the aide is eligible to apply for the position of autism mentor.

5.2.b.5. An employee who works with autistic students and meets the standards and experience set forth above qualifies for the autism mentor classifications.

5.2.c. Aide V, Aide VI, Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teacher (ECCAT), Paraprofessional are addressed in Policy 5202.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-146-5