Maintaining Confidentiality and Professional Boundaries
You are a paraprofessional at a high school (grades 9-12) working in a study skills class. You have access to students' IEPs and 504 plans. During lunch in the faculty room, a teacher who does not work with your students asks you about a particular student, saying, 'I heard that student has ADHD and gets extra time. Is that true? I have him next period and want to know what to expect.' You know the student does have ADHD and testing accommodations. The teacher is not on the student's educational team. Later that day, another teacher asks you to cover a class for 10 minutes while she runs an errand, which would leave you alone with students without certified supervision.
1. How should you respond to the teacher's question about the student's ADHD and accommodations? Explain your reasoning based on legal and ethical principles.
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I should not confirm or deny any information about the student's disability or accommodations. I would politely say, 'I'm sorry, but I can't discuss any student's information. You should contact the special education teacher or the student's case manager if you have concerns.' This response upholds confidentiality under FERPA and IDEA, which protect students' privacy. Sharing such information without consent or legitimate educational interest is a violation. Even though the teacher may have a legitimate interest, it is not my role to disclose; the appropriate channel is the case manager. This response also maintains professionalism and trust.
2. What should you do when asked to cover a class alone? Why?
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I should decline respectfully, saying, 'I'm not certified to supervise students alone; I can help find another certified teacher or call the office.' Paraprofessionals typically are not authorized to have sole responsibility for a class, as it may violate state certification rules and school policy, and it compromises student safety and liability. I would offer to assist in other ways, such as watching the class from the doorway while the teacher is gone, if policy allows, but not as the sole supervisor. I would also report the request to my supervising teacher or administrator to ensure proper coverage.