Senate passes bill to put teacher aides in struggling schools

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The Senate passed a bill Monday to put more reading aides in struggling schools that serve kids from low-income families.

SB81, which the Senate passed 25-4, would give $500,000 to Title I schools that fail to meet federal testing goals for two years in a row. The schools would then have to use that money to hire more specially trained teacher aides, called paraeducators. Title I schools are schools that receive federal dollars for serving high percentages of students from low-income families.

Bill sponsor Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, who is a former paraeducator, said the bill would ensure struggling students get more help.

The bill now goes to the House.

Lisa Schencker