Which statement best characterizes para-teachers?

• A. Those who passed the examination
• B. Those who never took the examination
• C. Those who failed the examination
• D. Those who are exempt from examination

Answer: (C)

Para-teachers are teaching personnel who do not hold a professional teaching license—typically because they did not pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers. This is why the best characterization is that they are those who failed the examination. They are not licensed teachers (who passed), and while some may have never taken the exam or be exempt for other reasons, the defining feature of para-teachers in this context is not having passed the licensure exam.