Services:
Special Education Assistant (Paraprofessional) Support

Special Education Assistant (SEA)

At BCCS, if the IEP team agrees SEA support is necessary and the SEA Rubric has been completed and reviewed, this service will be documented on the services page and you will select "Yes" for paraprofessional support. You'll need to "add" the service to describe what type of paraprofessional support (PCA or shared paraprofessional).

In the statement of need section - you must clearly define:

When is the support occurring?
Where will the support occur?
What goal/objective will the SEA be supporting and collecting data on?
Are there specific strategies or additional details the SEA will be implementing with the student?

This description and statement of need will replace documenting SEA support in the accommodations section.

You will need to complete the service grid with frequency, duration, and dates to validate and finalize IEPs but this information will not print on IEPs.

*TIP* If a student has a Care Plan for activities of daily living or level 1 behaviors AND SEA support, there should be two separate service lines, one for PCA and one for SEA. For PCA support, the statement of need can be written as in the examples below:

Can I write in SEA support when I think it's needed?

No. SEA support is a support that provides additional restrictions for the student because they are not accessing the gen ed curriculum independently. All SEA support is reviewed at the annual IEP meeting and similar to determining the amount of services needed, the IEP team should frequently assess and determine the amount of SEA support needed. The goal is for the student to be as independent as possible in the least restrictive setting while getting their needs met.

What if I think SEA support is needed?

Prior to proposing adding SEA support to a student's IEP, the case manager should consult with their building/site Special Services Supervisor and complete the BCCS Special Education Assistant Request: Student Needs Rubric in collaboration with the team .

Can SEA support be given if it isn't on the IEP

Is SEA support the same as PCA support?

No. PCA (Personal Care Assistant) is the term used for staff who are providing support for activities of daily living (ADLs) or Level 1 behaviors. The need for a PCA is determined by either the Licensed School Nurse (ADLs) or the Special Services Supervisor (Level 1 behaviors) through the process of writing a care plan, completing a time study, and providing ongoing documentation for support given. PCA services are billable through a student's insurance because they are determined to be a medical need and require specific wording on the IEP. Some students have both SEA and PCA supports on their IEP.

Can SEAs support general education students?

Generally, no. SEAs are funded through State and Federal special education sources that require any staff paid as such be supporting students with disabilities. There are times an SEA is supporting a student and may also interact with other students to reinforce the skill they are teaching or to encourage interaction between the gen ed student and the student with IEP support. SEAs cannot be assigned to work with general education students, including students with a 504.

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