CEP Professional Standards & Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A paraprofessional overhears a student make a comment suggesting they may harm themselves. The paraprofessional's immediate responsibility is to:
- Speak with the student privately to assess the seriousness
- Wait to see if the student brings it up again before acting
- Report the comment to the supervising teacher or counselor right away (Correct answer)
- Call 911 without notifying school staff first
Correct answer: Report the comment to the supervising teacher or counselor right away
Any indication of self-harm must be immediately escalated to a qualified school professional who is trained to assess and respond.
Question 2: Which statement accurately describes a paraprofessional's role in instruction?
- Paraprofessionals may design and independently deliver core curriculum
- Paraprofessionals implement instruction under the direction of a licensed teacher (Correct answer)
- Paraprofessionals can replace teachers when they are absent
- Paraprofessionals only manage behavior and have no instructional role
Correct answer: Paraprofessionals implement instruction under the direction of a licensed teacher
Paraprofessionals support and implement instruction planned by licensed teachers and do not independently design core curriculum.
Question 3: A paraprofessional is asked by a friend who works at a community center whether a mutual acquaintance's child has an IEP. The correct response is to:
- Confirm or deny it since the friend already suspects it
- Decline to share any student information, citing confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Check with the teacher first before answering
- Share only that the student receives 'extra help' without specifics
Correct answer: Decline to share any student information, citing confidentiality
Student records, including IEP status, are protected under FERPA and must not be disclosed outside proper educational channels.
Question 4: Professional development is important for paraprofessionals primarily because:
- It fulfills administrative paperwork requirements
- It improves skills and knowledge to better support student learning (Correct answer)
- It allows paraprofessionals to earn teacher certification automatically
- It is required only for special education paraprofessionals
Correct answer: It improves skills and knowledge to better support student learning
Ongoing professional development enhances paraprofessionals' effectiveness in supporting diverse student needs and instructional goals.
Question 5: A paraprofessional notices that a student's IEP accommodation calls for extended time on tests, but the teacher has not been providing it. The paraprofessional should:
- Silently provide the extra time without telling anyone
- Remind the teacher of the accommodation privately and document the concern (Correct answer)
- Confront the teacher in front of the class
- Contact the student's parents directly about the oversight
Correct answer: Remind the teacher of the accommodation privately and document the concern
Paraprofessionals should advocate for IEP compliance by bringing the oversight to the teacher's attention through professional communication.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a paraprofessional acting outside their professional role?
- Helping a student practice vocabulary flash cards designed by the teacher
- Modifying a student's IEP goals without teacher authorization (Correct answer)
- Supervising students during lunch at teacher direction
- Implementing a behavior support plan developed by a specialist
Correct answer: Modifying a student's IEP goals without teacher authorization
Modifying IEP goals is the legal responsibility of the IEP team, not the paraprofessional.
Question 7: When working with a student who has a physical disability, a paraprofessional should primarily focus on:
- Completing tasks for the student to ensure efficiency
- Promoting the student's independence to the greatest extent possible (Correct answer)
- Shielding the student from all challenging tasks
- Taking over all physical tasks so the student doesn't struggle
Correct answer: Promoting the student's independence to the greatest extent possible
Best practice in special education emphasizes fostering independence and self-advocacy, not creating dependency.
CEP Professional Standards & Ethics 3
A paraprofessional overhears a student make a comment suggesting they may harm themselves.
The paraprofessional's immediate responsibility is to: