ABOUT THIS BOOK AND TestWare® If youre looking to secure certification as a paraprofessional many states require the Praxis II ParaPro Assessment. Think of this book and the accompanying TestWare® as your toolkit to pass the test. It will help take the mystery and anxiety out of the testing process by equipping you not only with the nuts and bolts, but also, ultimately, with the confidence to succeed alongside your peers across the United States.
We at REA have put a lot of thought into this, and the result is a book that pulls together all the critical information you need to know to pass the test. Let us help you fill in the blanksliterally and figuratively! We will provide you with the touchstones that will allow you to do your very best come test day and beyond.
In this guide, REA offers our customary in-depth, up-to-date, objective coverage, with test-specific modules devoted to targeted review and realistic practice exams, in printed form and on the enclosed TestWare® on CD, complete with the kind of detail that makes a difference when youre coming down the homestretch in your preparation. We also include a quick-view answer key and competency-categorized progress chart to enable you to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. We strongly recommend that you begin your preparation with the TestWare® tests, which provide timed conditions and instantaneous, accurate scoring.
PRAXIS PARAPRO ASSESSMENT
ABOUT THE PRAXIS SERIES
Praxis is Educational Testing Services (ETS) shorthand for Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers. The Praxis Series is a group of teacher licensing tests that ETS developed in concert with states across the nation. There are three categories of tests in the series: Praxis I, Praxis II, and Praxis III. Praxis I includes the paper-based Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) and the Praxis I Computer-Based Tests (CBT). Both versions cover essentially the same subject matter. These exams measure basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills and are often a requirement for admission to a teacher education program.
Praxis II embraces Subject Assessment/Specialty Area Tests, of which the Praxis II ParaPro Assessment is a part. Most Praxis II examinations cover the subject matter that students typically study in teacher education courses such as language acquisition, school curriculum, methods of teaching, and other professional development courses. However, the Praxis II ParaPro Assessment is expressly for prospective and practicing paraprofessionals; it measures both skills and knowledge in reading, mathematics, and writing as well as the ability to apply those skills to the classroom.
Praxis III is different from the multiple-choice and essay tests typically used for assessment purposes. With this assessment, ETS-trained observers evaluate an instructors performance in the classroom, using nationally validated criteria. The observers may videotape the lesson, and other teaching experts may critique the resulting tapes. Who Takes the Test?
Thirty-five states require the Praxis II ParaPro Assessment, which fulfills the mandate of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). In order for a person to qualify as a paraprofessional, one must:
1. complete two years of study at an institution of higher education; or
2. obtain an associates (or higher) degree; or
3. meet a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics
readiness).
When and Where Can I Take the Test?
ETS offers the Praxis II ParaPro Assessment paper-based test four times a year. The paper-based test requires pre-registration. The Internet-based test does not require preregistration but is administered only in participating school districts throughout the year. Contact your districts administrative office for availability in your area.
How Do I Get More Information on the ETS Praxis Exams?
To receive information on upcoming administrations of any of the Praxis II Subject Assessments, consult the ETS registration bulletin or website, or contact ETS at:
Educational Testing Service
Teaching and Learning Division
P.O. Box 6051
Princeton, NJ 08541-6051
Phone: (609) 771-7395
Website: www.ets.org/praxis
E-mail: [email protected]
Special accommodations are available for candidates who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically disabled, or specific learning disabled. For questions concerning disability services, contact:
ETS Disability Services: (609) 771-7780
TTY only: (609) 771-7714
Provisions are also available for examinees whose primary language is not English. The ETS registration bulletin and website include directions for those requesting such accommodations. You can also consult ETS with regard to available test sites; reporting test scores; requesting changes in tests, centers, and dates of test; purchasing additional score reports; retaking tests; and other basic facts.