National Educational Support Professionals Day for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Wednesday, November 16th. There are until the next observance.

Every year on the Wednesday of American Education Week, which this year falls on November 16, we commemorate National Educational Support Professionals Day. The National Education Association Representative Assembly created this day to commemorate the education support personnel who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being and successful operation of public schools. These professionals also play an important part in fostering a healthy community by assisting kids both inside and outside of the classroom. The Education Support Professionals umbrella includes nine services: clerical, custodial and maintenance, food, health and students, para-educators, security, skilled trades, technical, and transportation. If you’re interested in this as a profession and need financial aid, Schoalroo has various education scholarships available.

📆 When is National Educational Support Professionals Day?

This year, National Educational Support Professionals Day is on November 16th. It is the 3rd Wednesday in November; in 2023, it is on Thursday.

Countdown to National Educational Support Professionals Day

Did you know: 78% of K–12 ESPs are responsible for keeping students and staff safe.

You can also see all cool things you didn’t know about and facts about November 16, 2022.

📜 History of National Educational Support Professionals Day

The NEA was founded in 1857 under the name the National Teachers Association (NTA). It was founded when ten state education organizations banded together to pool their resources and efforts in order to better serve students through an effective public education paradigm. The NTA was renamed the National Education Association (NEA) in 1870.

In the 1980s, the Association recognized ESPs as playing an important role in public education and granted them full membership privileges in the NEA. The NEA Representative Assembly announced in 1987 their effort to establish a unique day to recognize and appreciate the achievements of educational support employees in public schools. National Education Support Personnel Day, which is now held every year, was started because of this statement.

In 2002, the name was changed to National Educational Support Professionals Day to give support workers the respect and dignity they deserved for the professional work they do to make sure our public schools run smoothly and learning happens.

☑️ National Educational Support Professionals Day facts

94% of food services ESPs are female
Females make up the majority of cafeteria support employees in public schools.

ESPs work with special education students
Approximately 84% of paraeducator ESPs deal with kids with special needs.

Most ESPs live in the school district
71% of K-12 ESPs reside in the same neighborhood as the school where they work.

Things to do on National Educational Support Professionals Day

Spread awareness
Many people may be unaware that this day exists! You may raise awareness about this day by using social media.

Thank your local ESP
Giving thanks to your local school support workers demonstrates that you appreciate their efforts. If you’re a teacher, you may also require your pupils to write thank-you notes.

Lend a hand
Working as an ESP at a public school with hundreds of youngsters is a difficult task. If you find any of them in need, make an effort to aid them.

📅 National Educational Support Professionals Day Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 November 16 Thursday
2024 November 16 Saturday
2025 November 16 Sunday
2026 November 16 Monday
2027 November 16 Tuesday

You can view all November holidays, including Special Interest and other Career holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about National Educational Support Professionals Day. So be sure to check back soon.