North Texas State University (NTSU) has instituted a cooperative program which allows junior level education majors to become full-time paid teacher aides in participating school districts. The students work for one semester and are closely supervised by their university supervisor. To enter the program, they must have completed a minimum of sixty-three semester hours, including a mandatory child development course. Participating students are required to enroll in a curriculum class that meets one evening a week. Most students enroll for at least one class in addition to the curriculum class. For example, ninety percent of the students participate in the Elementary Laboratory Experience class which requires a minimum of sixty hours of classroom observation. They are given credit for their experience in the classroom and can obtain an additional three hours practicum credit that can be used as an elective. In this way, they do not lose an entire semester of university credit while participating in the aide program. Most aides gain at least 700 hours of work experience. Current salaries range from $3,300 to $3,600 per semester, and it is felt that this factor makes the aide more responsible to the school, and the school more inclined to provide valid work experience. Aides may be assigned routine paper work as well as classroom responsibiities or special assignments. The aide usually reports directly to the principal, and, at the end of the program, all teachers who have worked with the aide file evaluations with the NTSU project director. These evaluations are thought to enhance the students' employment chances. (JD)