There is a need for teachers who reflect the changing demographics of Los Angeles. There is also a shortage of elementary, bilingual, mathematics, science, and special education teachers. However, among the 15,000 paraeducators who assist teachers in classrooms throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District there are many who have both the desire and ability to help meet these needs. The great majority grew up in the community in which they work. All have experience working with children and many have expressed the desire to become teachers, but they have encountered the obstacles of time, money, family responsibilities, college advisement, or state-mandated exams.

In September 1994, the Paraeducator Career Ladder was established as a joint project of the LAUSD and Service Employees International Union, Local 99 to support paraeducators pursuing careers as teachers and to guide them towards shortage fields. Career Ladder participants are placed on one of five levels based on education completed towards a teaching credential, and demonstrated proficiency in a series of teaching related performance areas.  Progress towards a teaching credential is monitored through ongoing analysis of transcripts. Proficiency in performance areas is assessed through a process of observation by the supervising teacher. As participants increase their level of proficiency and progress towards a credential, they move up the Ladder. When they have received a credential, they are expected to work for the District for a minimum of two years if offered a position. In return, participants are provided with educational advisement, in-service training, mentoring, test preparation seminars, hiring assistance, and partial tuition reimbursement.

The Career Ladder is strongly supported by the Board of Education which provided the funds for development and has established the program as an integral part of the district’s recruitment strategy with a regular line in the general fund budget.

Results of the Career Ladder have been impressive. Since July 1995, over 3000 program participants have been hired as K-12 teachers. These new teachers are 89% minority and 60% bilingual. Reports from the field indicate that they are generally having success and come to the profession with skills that few other new teachers possess. In addition, the five-year retention rate as LAUSD teachers has been a steady 86%.