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Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, To Ensure That Maine Teachers and Paraprofessionals Who Work with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Are Appropriately and Adequately Prepared’
Amend the resolve in the emergency preamble in the 3rd Whereas paragraph in the 2nd line (page l, line 6 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "highly qualified" and inserting the following: 'appropriately and adequately prepared'
Amend the resolve in the emergency preamble in the 4th Whereas paragraph in the 2nd line (page l, line 8 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "highly qualified" and inserting the following: 'appropriately and adequately prepared'
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1 The State Board of Education and the Department of Education to study teachers and paraprofessionals who work with children with autism spectrum disorders. Resolved: That the State Board of Education and the Department of Education shall conduct a study to ensure that teachers and paraprofessionals who work with children with autism spectrum disorders are appropriately and adequately prepared. The department shall convene a work group with broad stakeholder representation. The purpose of the work group is to analyze the qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals who work with children with autism spectrum disorders and to make recommendations that will assist the department in ensuring that the teachers and paraprofessionals are appropriately and adequately prepared. The work group shall:
1. Examine and recommend the minimum level of competencies that regular educators, special educators and paraprofessionals need to provide educational services to students with autism spectrum disorders;
2. Examine and recommend specific standards for paraprofessional supervision, including, but not limited to, daily progress monitoring, problem solving and philosophy;
3. Examine and recommend strategies for the implementation of a paraprofessional structure, including basic education technician I, II and III standards; and
4. Define a designation for a paraprofessional to be considered appropriately and adequately prepared to provide special education services; and be it further’
Amend the resolve in section 2 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 36 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "the Department of Education by November 1, 2011. The" and inserting the following: 'the State Board of Education and the Department of Education by November 1, 2011. The State Board of Education and the'
 
SUMMARY
This amendment strikes out the "highly qualified" language of the resolve and replaces it with "appropriately and adequately prepared" to eliminate confusion with federal law. The amendment also includes the State Board of Education, along with the Department of Education, to share areas of responsibility.