Assessment Specialist, Large-scale Assessments

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Department of Student Assessment and MTSS empowers all CPS stakeholders with high-quality evidence of student learning to advance achievement, access, and opportunity for all students. The department supports schools in the development and implementation of balanced assessment systems and a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Framework that enables educators to meet students’ needs.

Job Summary:

The Assessment Specialist will support the successful implementation of an assigned portfolio of Large-Scale Assessments carried out across the district. The Assessment Specialist will report to the Assessment Manager, Large Scale Assessments. This is a full-time exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

This position will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate all aspects of the large-scale test administrations for the designated portfolio of assessments, including program management, communications, training, customer service support, and implementation oversight. The designated portfolio of work may include assessments such as:

• CPS HS Admissions Test, AP Exams, and Illinois Science Assessment

• EL Screeners, ACCESS, and DLM-AAA

• KIDS, Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), and Algebra Exit Exam

• PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, SAT and NAEP

• Manage the relationship with the test provider (e.g. vendor and/or Illinois State Board of Education), including but not limited to project management and contract management in service of assessment implementation

• In collaboration with the testing provider and CPS departments, design and lead training for school test coordinators, test proctors and technology coordinators

• Establish, implement, and maintain up-to-date processes, procedures, related documentation and materials to ensure test security and the successful implementation of high-fidelity assessments

• Collaborate across offices and departments on assessment policy and implementation, including but not limited to coordinating with the Office of Network Support (ONS), the Office of Language and Cultural Education (OLCE), the Office of Diverse Learner Supports Services (ODLSS), the Information Technology Services (ITS) team, and the Office of Access and Enrollment.

• Facilitate the cleaning, validating, and reporting of student assessment data to support district priorities by liaising with the School Quality Measurement, Information Technology Services (ITS), ISBE and Access and Enrollment teams.

• Design and distribute school, teacher and parent-facing communications and assessment resources to understand, interpret, and use assessment results for evidence-based decision-making

• Perform other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, this position must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in education, special education, educational measurement, education policy, or related field from an accredited college or university

• Master’s degree in the above fields is preferred

• Professional Educator Licensure issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) or reciprocal out-of-state licensure with Bilingual or ESL endorsement, preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional work experience in education is required, with a preference for experience in assessment programming and/or instructional data analysis for relevant programs

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience with large-scale urban district operations or implementation preferred

• Experience working in a large urban school district, and experience with third-party vendor management preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Capable of clear communication and collaboration with a broad range of audiences/constituents including policymakers, district leadership, and school-based staff

• High levels of assessment literacy; familiarity with the principles of test security, implementation and administration.

• Exceptional organizational, project management and strategic planning capabilities, including the ability to establish goals, and align activities toward goal fulfillment

• Quick learner with the ability to conduct multiple projects concurrently

• Ability to design and facilitate adult professional learning

• Proficiency in Google Suite with advanced Google Sheets skills, and familiarity with information technology

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.