1-1 Instructional Assistants     

INCL 7.0

The Archdiocese of Baltimore Department of Schools supports the use of one-to-one instructional assistants (one-to-one) for appropriate students, subject to the conditions of this policy.

Purpose:

• To allow students who need the support of a one-to-one instructional assistant to access a Catholic Education.

Commentary and Procedural Points:

• An appropriate student is one who has an up-to-date psychoeducational evaluation the results of which demonstrate the need for one-to-one assistance in the school setting.

• The school:

  • bears no financial obligation towards the one-to-one or the student’s family.

  • is not liable for any injury or misfortune that should happen to the one-to-one while on school property or at a school function.

• The one-to-one must be Virtus certified and complete any other necessary paperwork and trainings before he/she is allowed to begin services at the school.  Other necessary paperwork and trainings are defined at the discretion of the principal and the AOB.

  • • The one-to-one is expected to uphold the school’s values and code of conduct.

    • The one-to-one is expected to be with the child every school day, through every activity.  Should this schedule be disrupted in any way, there needs to exist a contingency plan for the student and the school.

    • Communication about the student’s progress and needs should go through the student’s parent/guardian, as it would with any other student.  Communication with the student’s one-to-one is not to be used in lieu of this.

    • The one-to-one is not allowed to use restraints or safety holds with the child, nor any form of discipline that is not approved by the AOB.

    • The one-to-one may be asked to leave the school at any time and/or discontinue service at the discretion of the principal.  The parent/guardian must be notified if this occurs and alternative plans must be made for the student.

    • The parent/guardian may request the removal of the one-to-one at any time and/or choose to discontinue service. 

      • • The parent/guardian must notify the school administration in advance of this decision. 

        • If the family does not provide another one-to-one and the school believes that the student can only be successful with one-to-one support, the school reserves the right to request that the student seek a different school placement where his/her needs can be met.  This is done at the discretion of the principal.

• If a student has a one-to-one instructional assistant assigned to them, a standard comment should be recorded on the student’s progress report for each class in which the one-to-one is present with the student.

June 27, 2019