Raised Bill No. 6844 addresses the professional development and data collection requirements for paraeducators in Connecticut. The bill mandates that starting from the school year commencing July 1, 2023, each paraeducator must participate in an annual professional development program of at least eighteen hours, provided at no cost. The program should be comprehensive and include principles and practices of social-emotional learning and restorative practices, but exclude mandated trainings such as those on blood-borne pathogens. Additionally, the bill requires the inclusion of at least one paraeducator in professional development and evaluation committees and directs the Department of Education to develop guidance and best practices for paraeducator professional development programs.

The bill also introduces a requirement for the collection of specific data on paraeducators, including their number, job titles, pay rates, working hours, healthcare contributions, and salaries, to be included in the public school information system with a unique identifier for each paraeducator. An annual report detailing paraeducator staffing levels and the impact of vacancies on students must be posted on the Department of Education's website and submitted to the General Assembly committee. Furthermore, the bill ensures that if requested, a school paraprofessional must attend planning and placement team meetings and review the educational program with a supervisor to provide appropriate services to the child. The bill does not indicate any deletions from current law, as it appears to introduce entirely new provisions.