What are the responsibilities and job description for the Special Education Compliance Manager - Middle Grades (5-8) position at Inspired Teaching Demonstration School?
Reports to Director of Special Education
School Mission
At the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, a professional learning community of master teachers and teacher residents ensures that a diverse group of students achieve their potential as accomplished learners, thoughtful citizens, and imaginative and inquisitive problem solvers through a demanding, inquiry-based curriculum. With its clear mission and prominent location in Washington, DC, the school serves as a model of instruction for students and training for teachers, with the goal of becoming a leader in changing the way teachers are prepared and supported and students are educated nationwide.
Job Purpose
The Special Education Compliance Manager is responsible for overseeing and maintaining compliance for all students in the school’s special education program – specifically, students with IEPs or 504 plans. The Special Education Compliance Manager oversees all aspects of special education services, including student assessment, as well as legal and compliance requirements of public schools under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
A firm belief and grounding in the philosophy and values of the school's mission is crucial for every employee. It is of the utmost importance that every member of the school’s staff believes that all children can learn and contribute to the vitality of their learning community. This combined with a deep care for all students is the foundation for our work.
Essential Functions
Special Education Programming
- Coordinates the implementation of, and ensures delivery of appropriate accommodations and/or modifications for students with IEPs and 504 plans by coordinating the implementation of accommodations on state and local testing in collaboration with lower/middle school teams
- Implements effective systems for special education staff to adhere to grade level planning expectations and supports for students with IEPs/504s with fidelity
- Provides teachers with planning and tracking templates and resources and monitors their implementation
- Collaborates with division Assistant Principals (ECE & Lower Grades), Director of Special Education, and teachers via grade-level team meetings
- Supports the referral process by participating in discussions regarding students within RTI/MTSS processes who are being considered for referral to special education to ensure smoother transition for families
- Checks in regularly with instructional coaches
- Checks in regularly with interventionists
- Checks in regularly with division assistant principal
- Ensures successful transition of students from MTSS into special education program
- Serves as the LEA Representative in IEP meetings, inclusive of students receiving home or hospital instruction or placed in non-public schools of whom The Inspired Teaching Demonstration School is the responsible LEA
- Arranges, updates, and monitors transportation services for students with disabilities, including working with vendors and consulting with ITDS operations team
- Develops positive relationships with parents of students with disabilities to support better understanding of their child's unique needs
- Reviews SPED teachers’ progress report comments and provides feedback
- Provides feedback on IEP goals and Present Levels of Performance (PLOP) PLOP statements
- Sends out letters of invitation for IEP meetings, shares a draft IEP 5 days in advance and provides Prior Written Notice when needed
- Sends IEP and 504 plan final drafts out to sign digitally
- Updates 504 plans annually and completes triennial 504 re-evaluations
- Reviews BIPs for all students, regardless of SPED status
- Case manages students in nonpublic placement, including consistent family and schoolteam communication, monthly site visits, review of all nonpublic documentation, progress reports, report cards, incident reports, and assessments
- Facilitates and monitor home health instruction for students as needed
- Develop and manage transition plans for 8th grade students entering into high school
Special Education Staffing and Support
- Serves as a tone-setter for the school’s special education program by upholding the school values, mission, commitment, and strategic priorities to meet every child's needs in collaboration with families
- Assists all staff members involved in the provision of specialized instruction and related services; includes related services staff, special education teaching/intervention/individualized instructional staff, and applicable evaluation providers
- Coordinates staff members ad hoc to address student issues
- In collaboration with the Director of Special Education, supports the management, coaching and professional learning of Specialist, Individualized Instruction Supports SIIs with student-specific issues
- Assists in the development and implementation of local procedures and policies for identification, evaluation, and placement of students with disabilities inclusive of considerations regarding the least restrictive environment; educates general education team on policies and procedures when necessary
- Ensures case managers and applicable IEP team members are appropriately prepared for IEP/504 related meetings and collaborates with team members after meetings to ensure implementation is structured and monitored
- Shares staffing recommendations on special education programs and assists in recruitment and selection of special education personnel as appropriate
- Coordinates with the Director of Special Education, Principal and other members of the school leadership team to plan and lead special education professional development opportunities
- Observes and provides feedback to SPED teachers and SIIs through coaching sessions, using Schoolmint Grow to capture the feedback and also to track the implementation of the feedback
- Monitors student groupings and offers feedback as requested from teachers
Compliance
- Maintains Special Programs database and oversees the development and maintenance of all special education records of assigned lower and/or middle school student caseloads
- Adheres to mandated Federal, District and LEA timelines for student evaluation, family consent permissions, and child find obligations; Stays abreast of all legal requirements governing special education and their application to programs in DC
- Ensures IEPs are compliant with federal and district regulations and meet the requirements from overseeing agencies including OSSE and DCPCSB; Goals are standards based and relevant for the individual student, present levels of performance are appropriate and current; service prescriptions are individualized and inclusive of the Least Restrictive Environment
- Participates in mediation and due process activities, as requested
- Monitors compliance based deadlines through proactive management of initial and re-evaluation timelines for IEP and 504 events, inclusive of students receiving home or hospital instruction or placed in non-public schools of whom The Inspired Teaching Demonstration School is the responsible LEA; coordinates all aspects of the evaluation process
- Creates, shares, and monitors shared calendars for timely scheduling and holding of 504 & IEP events inclusive of related meetings (FBA, BIP, Evaluations, Safety Plans etc.)
- Prepares for weekly SPED compliance meetings by sharing updates and reviewing dashboard with the Director of Special Education, division Assistant Principals and Principal as requested
- Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Special Education, Principal, or Head of School
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; Masters in Special Education preferred.
- Current certification/licensure in Special Education
- At least 5 years experience in Special Education
- Strong skills in working with adult learners, giving meaningful and productive feedback.
- Deep commitment to reflective practice, an ability to give and receive feedback openly and without defensiveness, and a desire to constantly question and improve teaching practice.
- Commitment to creating a school that not only provides an excellent education for the student, but that creates an open, trusting learning environment for the teachers.
- Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist, anti-bias practices and comfort and willingness to address issues of equity, access and inclusion.
- Ability to thrive in an innovative environment and an interest in being part of a team that builds the systems that support the school.
- Embodies a whole child mindset.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
History
Inspired Teaching Demonstration School was founded on the work of Center for Inspired Teaching to ensure that all schools make the most of children’s innate desire to learn. The school is organized to meet two related, mutually reinforcing goals: to provide an excellent education for students, and to provide excellent teacher preparation and professional development for teachers and teacher leaders. As such, the school is a true learning community.
Inspired Teaching Demonstration School opened for the 2011-2012 school year following authorization by the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board. The school was founded by a Founding Group convened by Center for Inspired Teaching, a Washington DC based non-profit organization, which began working with teachers and schools in 1995. Professional development, mentoring, and teacher certification programs have all been a part of Inspired Teaching Demonstration School’s work and shared goal to transform the school experience for all children.
Philosophy
Inspired Teaching is rooted in the belief that every student possesses the ability to think critically, learn and understand information, and solve complex problems and that students should spend their time in school engaged primarily in these kinds of activities. It is the teacher's responsibility to find or create a way to reach every student in partnership with the student’s family.
At Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, we teach and reinforce Intellect, Inquiry, Imagination, and Integrity, our four Is. Such education is a continuous process that supports and sustains all other aspects of school life and purpose. We have also always been committed to creating an equitable school environment that actively works to surface and address issues of social justice.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The Inspired Teaching School offers competitive salaries, commensurate with experience. The school offers a strong benefits package that includes health care (multiple plan options), retirement plan (employer match available), Flexible Spending accounts, supplemental insurance through AFLAC, and pre-tax public transportation/Metro benefit.
The Inspired Teaching Demonstration School is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and encourages applicants from all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national original, marital status, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status. All employment decisions are made solely on the basis of the individual’s qualifications as related to the requirements of the position being filled. The school's Title IX Coordinator is Jessica Hiltabidel (jessica.hiltabidel@inspiredteachingschool.org).
