The CEC's Paraeducator Academy: A National Certification and Professional Learning System to Elevate Practice

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the CEC Paraeducator Academy in 2026—a comprehensive training system designed to support paraeducators, teachers, and school administrators as they work together to serve students with disabilities.

Grounded in the CEC Core Competencies for Special Education Paraeducators, the Academy provides structured, research-based pathways that:

  • Build essential knowledge and skills for paraeducators
  • Equip teachers to supervise, coach, and collaborate effectively
  • Provide administrators with tools for implementation, evaluation, and ongoing growth

Registration will be opening soon, and we hope you’ll consider the Paraeducator Academy as a key part of your professional.

Interested? Reach Out!

Coach P with Coming Soon sign

PARAEDUCATOR ACADEMY: LEVEL 1 TRAINING OPTIONS

CEC Certified Paraeducator (Individual)

CERTIFICATION EARNED
  • CEC Certified Paraeducator
REQUIREMENTS
  • 4 On-Demand Paraeducator Courses
  • Review & Performance Assessment with Master Trainer

CEC Teacher-Paraeducator Team Certification

CERTIFICATION EARNED
  • CEC Certified Paraeducator
  • CEC Certified Paraeducator Mentor (Teacher)
  • CEC Certified Paraeducator Administrator (Administrator)
REQUIREMENTS
  • Paraeducators: 4 On-Demand Paraeducator Courses
  • Teachers: 1 On-Demand Course
  • Administrators: 1 On-Demand Course
TEAM ASSESSMENT
  • Joint Review & Feedback Session
  • Team-Based Performance Assessment with Master Trainer

Professional Development (No Certification)

PARAEDUCATOR SESSIONS
  • Working on Teacher-Paraeducator Teams (2 hrs)
  • Instructional Supports (2 hrs)
  • Behavioral Supports (2 hrs)
TEACHER SESSIONS
  • Effective Supervision + SMART-6  (2 hrs)
  • Mentoring Adult Learners (2 hrs)
  • The Art of Delegation (2 hrs)
ADMINISTRATOR SESSIONS
  • Implementing High Quality Teams (3 hrs)
  • Mentoring Adult Learners (2 hrs)
  • CEC Paraeducator Assessment & Evaluation Toolkit

Delivery for all Level 1 Training Options includes:

  • Virtual (Livestream)
  • On-site (District)

Questions? Get in Touch

Last Updated:  2 February, 2026

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