Funding Sources

Are you looking for funds to attend the CSEA Paraeducator Conference?

Read this page to find out about both individual and district funding resources. Many districts and some CSEA chapters pay for classified staff to attend this conference every year. Listed below is information about a grant from CSEA for individuals to attend, as well as possible funding sources that may be available to districts to pay for staff to attend. Be sure to inquire with your district, chapter president, and/or your CSEA labor relations representative regarding these funding sources and their availability to send classified staff to this conference.

Individual Funding Source

CSEA Member Reimbursement Subsidy:  Members attending the Paraeducator Conference can apply for a CSEA Member Reimbursement Subsidy to cover the registration fee, hotel, meals, mileage, parking, and other expenses related to the conference up to $250. Applications are accepted starting January 12, 2024, and are accepted no later than March 29, 2024. Applications are approved on a first come, first serve basis as long as budget funds for the fiscal year are still available. There are a limited number of grants so apply early. Once your application is approved, funds will be disbursed after we verify your attendance at the conference. Note: Members are eligible to receive this grant every other year. Members who are receiving district or chapter funds to attend are not eligible for this subsidy as this grant is intended to reimburse members for their own out of pocket expenses. 

District Funding Sources

Please consider the following list of funding resources that may be available to you through your district's budget.

Learning Recovery Block Grant:  This grant provides $7.9 billion to "establish learning recovery initiatives through the 2027-28 school year that, at a minimum support academic learning recovery and staff and pupil social and emotional well-being."

The Discretionary Block Grant:  This grant provides $3.36 billion in one-time Prop 98 General Fund discretionary dollars that can be spent on professional development related to school climate, operational costs (including retirement and healthcare costs increases), pandemic response, and/or instructional materials.

Educator Effectiveness Block Grant:  As part of the 2021-22 State Budget, school districts have been provided with paraeducator training funds. Funds may be expended during the 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 fiscal years.

General Title I Funds:  to support ongoing training and professional development to assist teachers and paraprofessionals (Section 1114(b)(1)(D) & Section 1115(c)(I) (F) of Title I).

Title II, Part A:  Improving Teacher Quality State Grants funds may be used to provide professional development that “improves the knowledge of teachers and principals, and in appropriate cases, paraprofessionals concerning core academic subjects and effective instructional practices to improve student academic achievement” (Section 2123(a)(3) (A) & (B)).

Title III, Part A:  The English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act, authorized local education agencies to use formula grant funds for professional development of teachers and other instructional personnel providing instruction to students needing English language acquisition and language enhancement (Section 3115(c)(2)).

Senate Bill (SB) 590:  Relates to professional development for classified employees effective January 1, 2014. This law requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to consider the training needs of classified school employees whenever funds are expended for the professional development of any school site staff.