Every day, more than two million school support staff, also known as education support professionals, ensure that schools can operate and students can learn. Each morning, students rely on school bus drivers to pick them up from home and bring them to school. The staff in the cafeteria cooks warm meals for breakfast and lunch, ensuring students have the energy to learn during the day. Custodians clean every classroom, hallway, bathroom, and shared space in the school and grounds to keep students and staff safe and healthy. Paraeducators work with students who may need extra attention and specialized support to set each student up for learning success. School nurses take temperatures, dispense medications, and soothe scraped knees. These are just some of the important careers that support students during the school day.
From the introduction to School Support Services Outsourcing: The Original Privatization of Education.