Para Handbook: Roles, Confidentiality + IEP Basics for Secondary SPED

This para handbook covers the operations side of the job on a secondary SPED or transition team: roles, confidentiality, IEP basics in plain language, supporting without taking over, community and job sites, and communication with the lead teacher.

Why I made this: New paras usually get a stack of forms and a quick tour. What they need is a clear picture of who does what, what to keep private, what an IEP actually says, and when to check with the teacher. I wrote this for the first week, to read together with the lead teacher, so expectations are clear from day one.

What's included:

• Cover and lead teacher how to page

• Who does what on a secondary and transition team

• What paras do and what goes to the teacher

• Confidentiality: okay and not okay

• What to say when someone asks about a student

• The parts of an IEP in plain language

• Accommodations or modifications

• Related services and transition services

• Supporting instruction without taking over

• Community and job sites: before, during, and after

• Communication with the lead teacher

• First week operations checklist

• My team and my questions page

How I use it: Fill in the building blanks before day one. Read it together in 20 to 30 minutes on day one or two. Come back to the IEP pages once the para has met the students. Keep it at the para station. It has no student information in it.

How this is different from my related products: My New Paraprofessional Cheat Sheet: Behavior Support Basics for the First Week covers behavior support for the first week. This handbook covers everything else: roles, confidentiality, IEP basics, and operations. It does not repeat the behavior content. Use them together.

Part of the Para + SPED Teacher Toolkit series: printable staff tools for secondary SPED and transition teams. Get all eight in one download: Para and SPED Teacher Toolkit Bundle: https://payhip.com/b/Xm3K0

Batch siblings (plain titles): Para Handbook; Para Schedule Templates; SPED Sub Binder; IEP at a Glance Sheets (this batch).

Also from The Transition Cliff:

• New Paraprofessional Cheat Sheet: Behavior Support Basics for the First Week

• Para Ready Calm Kit (coming soon)

• Teacher & Paraprofessional Daily Communication Log | Weekly Planning Pages

• The Para + SPED Teacher Toolkit bundle (coming soon)

Who it is for: secondary SPED teachers, transition coordinators, case managers, and paras on grades 6 to 12 and 18 to 21 transition teams. Staff resource (Not Grade Specific).

What you download: one printable PDF, 14 pages, US Letter.

Real buildings vary. Fill in your room numbers, names, and local rules. Always follow your district policies.

Made by Jeremy D. Gooch, special education teacher and transition coordinator. Drafting and layout had AI assistance; every page was checked by me.