Promise Seen in Patchwork of Para-to-Teacher Programs

By Jeanne Ponessa

Sarah Montoya spent nine years as an aide who helped other teachers, dreaming of the day when she would have a classroom of her own.

But, like many school paraprofessionals, the 30-year-old native of Spain couldn't afford college. "I had always wanted to go to school, but due to my financial situation, I was not able to," she said.

At least, not until she hooked up with the Urban Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Program at Cambridge College in Cambridge, Mass.. The program has given her and dozens of other paraprofessionals the chance to make the...