- Increased Enrollment: During this period, there was a significant increase in student enrollment in public schools. This led to larger class sizes and a greater demand for additional support staff.
- Expansion of Special Education: The 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act (now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) mandated that all children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. This led to an increased need for teacher aides to provide specialized support to students with disabilities.
- Growing Student Diversity: The 1960s and 1970s also saw an increase in student diversity in public schools, with more students from different cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This led to a need for teacher aides who could provide additional support to students from diverse backgrounds.
- Change in Educational Philosophy: There was a shift in educational philosophy during this time toward a more student-centered approach, with an emphasis on individualized instruction and differentiated learning. Teacher aides were seen as a valuable resource to help teachers provide individualized support to students and to create a more positive learning environment.
- Cost-Effective Measure: Hiring teacher aides was also seen as a cost-effective measure to provide additional support to students. Teacher aides could be hired at a lower salary than teachers, and they could provide valuable assistance in a variety of classroom settings.