Out-of-District Special Education Coordinator (Anticipated)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Engage families as collaborative partners in the planning and problem-solving process regarding out-of-district placements.
• Maintain close contact with out-of-district providers and parents to assess student progress and proactively address emerging needs. 
• Facilitate access to in-district opportunities available to out-of-district students (e.g., extracurriculars, district events) to support families.
• Coordinate and chair all aspects of team meetings for out-of-district students, including evaluations, re-evaluations, and annual reviews, in compliance with 603 CMR 28.00.
• Collaborate with out-of-district school teams to align IEP services and goals with student schedules.
• Facilitate placement interviews, disseminate student records, and manage communication with potential schools and programs.
• Travel to 766 DESE-approved schools statewide, conduct IEP team meetings, and complete monitoring plan activities for outplacement schools.
• Act as the transportation liaison between families and transportation agency/out-of-district placements to schedule, monitor, adjust, and ensure compliance with routes and timeliness of transportation. 
• Provide and coordinate annual transportation agency training per regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with outplaced schools regarding ESY programming services and transportation for students in out-of-district placements.
• Engage in joint efforts to review out-of-district student transcripts with the district guidance department to ensure graduation requirements have been met.
• Oversee or support required state reporting: 688 referrals, Age of Majority, aging out, graduation timelines, and transcript reviews.
• Analyze data and trends among students in out-of-district placements and referrals.
• Communicate with state agencies and community partners, in collaboration with out-of-district placements, to support interagency collaboration and planning year to year and as students age out of special education. 
• Responsible for all students privately placed in non-public schools, including conducting annual reviews and reevaluations, and keeping an accurate child count in private schools.
• Execute and oversee equitable share requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including planning and facilitating timely and meaningful consultation meetings with school representatives and families of parentally placed private school students or homeschooled children on IEPs. 
• Prepare Service Plans for individual students to provide equitable services.
• Ensure all required stakeholders, including private and homeschool school representatives and parents, are invited and participate and that appropriate documentation and data comply with federal regulations. 
• Facilitate discussion of available services, eligibility criteria, and equitable service delivery options through equitable share funding.
• Ensure that out-of-district administrative offices comply with Medicaid reimbursement procedures for the school district.
• Track and maintain a current database on placements, tuition, transportation costs, ancillary services, and support to assist with Circuit Breaker reimbursement procedures. 
• Participate in dispute resolution meetings, hearings, and mediation settlement meetings as needed.
• Perform other duties as designated by the Director of Special Education.

Qualifications and Requirements/Preferences:

• Master’s degree in a related field required;
• Prefer minimum five years’ experience working in a school setting with students with disabilities and their families preferred.
• Prefer minimum of three years’ experience in an administrative role within the public school setting preferred. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing required.
• Licensed by DESE as special education administrator. 
• Must demonstrate an understanding of 603 CMR 28.00 and have thorough knowledge of all aspects of the Interdisciplinary TEAM special education process and mandated special education procedures, including transition planning for students 14 and older required. Proficient in understanding diagnostic procedures, interpretation of various assessment tools and goal/program development preferred.
• Reliable transportation for travel to out-of-district placements.