What are the responsibilities and job description for the School Assignment Specialist position at Chicago Public Schools?

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 Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is responsible for student evaluations, creating and monitoring Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and working with schools, staff, and families to fulfill these plans toward greater student development and achievement. OSD uses a data-driven approach to best support the needs of each individual student and does so in compliance with federal and state regulations regarding special education, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Job Summary :

The School Assignment Specialist will coordinate and facilitate appropriate school location assignments for students with disabilities who, as determined by the IEP team, require either an accessible school building, specially designed instruction, a program with a significantly modified curriculum and / or intensive support due to the student's unique needs and abilities. This position will report to the School Assignment Manager.

The School Assignment Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities :

Collaborate with the School Assignment Manager to implement, support, and facilitate adherence to OSD School Assignment procedures
Collaborate with Citywide Assessment Teams (CATs) and school-based staff to receive and process school assignment requests in compliance with federal and state regulations
Review Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Plans of any student with a school assignment request to determine appropriate placement
Assist school administration and staff with any requests for assistance and / or troubleshooting any issues regarding current school assignments requiring attention or revision
Collaborate effectively with departments across CPS regarding School Assignment needs, for example :
Work closely with the Office Access & Enrollment to process assignments and determinations made through the school placement lottery system
Work with Student Information Systems (SIS) and Data teams to prepare for activities that require increased support, such as end-of-year processing, beginning-of-year school assignments, and projections regarding school assignments warranting transportation routing
Communicate with parents, case managers, teachers, and school administration regarding students' school assignment needs
Partner with colleagues in OSD (i.e., District Representatives and Related Service Provider Managers) to make decisions regarding appropriate school assignments, discuss new programs, and troubleshoot any challenging issues at the school level
Regularly access and review reports in CPS Student Services Management (SSM) systems (e.g., Students waiting for School Assignments) as needed to ensure appropriate action is taken and legal requirements regarding school assignments timelines are met
Collaborate with the School Assignment Manager and team members to ensure accurate, timely entry of assignment-related data to maintain live, accurate records within systems of use
Maintain weekly and monthly summaries of school assignments and data collected related to timeliness of school assignments; discuss any concerns with the School Assignment Manager and escalate if needed
Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the School Assignment Specialist must possess the following qualifications :

Education Required :

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, required

Valid teaching license / Professional Educators License issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with LBSI endorsement, preferred

Experience Required :

Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience working with or supporting individuals with disabilities in special education or a related field (such as instructional roles, case management or advocacy services), including the following, is required :

Experience developing and implementing school-based interventions, transition or support plans, and / or conducting related evaluations / assessments of students with disabilities

Experience coordinating services for individuals with disabilities

Extensive experience in developing and delivering professional training related to school-to-career initiatives, comprehensive support processes, special education issues, and / or teaching and learning

Three (3) years of classroom teaching experience, preferred

Case management experience, and / or direct CPS experience is strongly preferred

Other Requirements :

Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish is preferred

Knowledge of and ability to navigate CPS data / recordkeeping systems (e.g. Access, SSM, Aspen), preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Strong knowledge of relevant regulations and procedures stipulated in IDEA 2004 and Illinois School Code

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, respond promptly to multiple constituencies, and meet continuous critical deadlines

Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to build collaborative relationships and work effectively with a variety of constituent groups from diverse backgrounds, including with internal and external partners (e.g., parents, students, OSD staff, school-based staff, citywide staff, and governmental and community-based agencies)

Excellent time management and organizational skills, including the ability to successfully manage multiple priorities simultaneously with minimal supervision while maintaining high levels of accuracy

Capable of developing strong familiarity with IEP and / or 504 Plan processes and regulations in order to effectively review IEP and / or 504 Plan documents and make thorough recommendations for an accurate school assignment

Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps; capable of utilizing various software programs and data tracking systems for project and program efficiency

Ability to promote and encourage parental involvement and participation in the IEP process

Highly proficient in the use of technology and computers / computer software and systems (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite)

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.

Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.

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