Reports To:        Director of Exceptional Children Resources

Date of Employment:         On or about January 28, 2013

Closing Date for Application:          January 4, 2013

Description of Position:

The Education Associate for General Supervision, IDEA is a member of the Exceptional Children Resources work group of the Teaching and Learning Branch of the Department. 

 Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as the lead manager and data analyst for the State’s Annual Performance Report (“APR”) and State Performance Plan (“SPP”) required by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (“OSEP”), to include:
  • Ensuring the DOE meets OSEP requirements regarding the APR and SPP, including the timely and accurate submission of data required throughout the year.
  • Developing and tracking the implementation of a 12 month calendar of events to guide the APR and SPP activities throughout the year.
  • Providing leadership on the development and implementation of SPP and APR targets, improvement activities, and data results.
  • Maintaining knowledge of current OSEP policy and regulations concerning APR and SPP requirements. 
  • Communicating with stakeholders about APR and SPP goals, strategies, progress, and results, and coordinating stakeholder input. 
  • Ensuring the DOE’s public reporting of the SPP/APR is timely and in proper form to meet OSEP’s requirements. 
• Serve as the lead staff for DOE activities and data analysis related to disproportionate representation of certain ethnic and minority groups in special education, to include: 
  • Participating in the review of local educational agency (“LEA”) policies, practices, and procedures, in the area of disproportionate representation in special education, to include, but not limited to, practices related to the evaluation and identification of children as children with disabilities, general education interventions, the educational placements of children with disabilities, behavioral intervention services, and disciplinary practices. 
  • Evaluating reports of LEA directed reviews of policies, practices, and procedures. 
  • Coordinating student record reviews, LEA staff interviews, and on-site observations   related to specific areas of disproportionality in special education.
  • Maintaining knowledge of current OSEP policy and regulations concerning disproportionate representation in special education and specific State and LEA level responsibilities.
• Participate in all general supervision activities, including compliance monitoring of LEAs, and State level verification activities.
• Serve as the lead staff member for DOE in providing special education support to charter schools.
• Provide technical assistance to public agencies, school districts, and charter schools, as needed
• Other duties as assigned by the Director, Associate Secretary, and/or Secretary of Education.

Essential Qualifications and Skills:

Education:  Master’s Degree in Special Education, School Psychology, Social Work or other related area such as a Doctorate of Jurisprudence with experience in special education law. 

Experience:

• Firm knowledge of OSEP policy and regulations concerning disproportionate representation in special education and specific State and LEA responsibilities.
• Knowledge of electronic databases, and competence in using standard software applications, including Microsoft Word.
• Preferred experience with technical assistance to LEAs.

Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Performs responsibilities with minimal supervision
• Capable of setting priorities and working in collaboration with others
• Be able to proactively problem-solve with professionalism
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with staff in a tactful, congenial and personal manner
• Discretion and confidentiality are essential. 
  

Salary:

Salary will be computed in accordance with the educational level and work experience of the individual selected and in accordance with the salary schedules for employees of the Department of Education.  Direct deposit of payroll checks is mandatory for state employment, and employees are paid on a lag pay schedule with the first payment made after approximately one month of employment. 

Notes

A criminal background check is required. The successful candidate must meet Delaware’s PRAXIS I test of basic skills requirements in reading, writing and mathematics.  This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. The successful canidate should expect to perform any other related activities needed to deliver the position’s key duties and responsibilities and follow any other instructions as defined by his/her supervisor.

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Apply To:
Mary L. Cooke, Esq.
Human Resource Office
Delaware Department of Education
401 Federal Street
Dover, Delaware 19901
Phone:(302) 735-4030
Fax:(302) 739-7768
Email:doehr@doe.k12.de.us

• Application for Employment [PDF] [Word]
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The Delaware Department of Education is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age or Vietnam Era veteran’s status in employment or its programs and activities.