SPECIAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR

BASIC FUNCTION/DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

Under the direction of the Executive Director or designee, assume responsibility for the planning, implementation and management of special education programs and services. Responsibility for ensuring compliance with the state and federal regulations governing the delivery of services to students with special needs. Provide leadership in policy development for procedures relating to students with special needs; ensure Charter Organization compliance with mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and 504 provisions.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• California Education Specialist Credential and CLAD certification
• Master’s Degree in Education, Special Education, or related field
• Valid California Administrative Services Credential desired
• Five (5) years related experience in special education leadership
• Five (5) years of successful teaching, counseling, speech and language, psychology and/or administrative experience
• Crisis Preventive Intervention (CPI) Training desired
• Valid California driver’s license
• Bilingual Spanish preferred

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but intended to accurately reflect the principal job elements.

• Provide Instructional leadership and oversight to the Special Education department, including Special Education Teachers, Certificated Teacher Resource (CTRs), and any vendor servicing special education students.
• Provides administrative leadership for Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings.
• Facilitates meetings and processes for the purpose of implementing and maintaining Special Education programs and services to achieve desired educational outcomes.
• Collaborates effectively with staff, students, and families for the purpose of planning, developing, maintaining, and evaluation of special education services and programs.
• Prepare documentation and reports data for the purpose of providing written support, conveying information and complying with state and federal regulations.
• Effectively communicates information on special education programs, performance, services and regulations to Leadership Team and staff for the purpose of understanding programs and performance.
• Provides oversight and coordinates with outside agencies and providers to provide services to students and staff for the purpose of offering and accounting for appropriate services.
• Provides Leadership Team level coordination and oversight of special education procedures and processes to ensure legal compliance at all levels.

·       Prepare documentary evidence and assistance for due process hearings and mediation.

·       Monitor nonpublic schools for compliance with appropriate legal requirements, State mandates and regulations, policies and procedures and standards for curriculum and graduation.

·       Monitors NPS/NPA contracts and MOUs for quality review and adherence to the contract terms and ensures that expenses are within the budget limits and/or fiscal practices are followed.

• Supervises the training of Special Education staff.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge regarding developing special education issues, changes in the laws and case law, and educational methods of educating students with disabilities, for the purpose of managing an excellent special education program.
• Incorporates policies and procedures in accordance laws and regulations.
• Ensure that all special education practices are legal and ethical for each special education student and family so that each child has the opportunity to achieve at a high level.
• Conduct employee evaluations of all special education staff.
• Manage special education complaints.
• Manage 504 plans and compliance.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE:

• The Vision, Mission, and Values of Altus Schools.
• Comprehensive education, special education programs and regulations.
• Principles of special education and 504 laws and policies.
• Principles of instruction, curriculum development, student engagement for all student groups at the K-12 level.
• Leadership and management capabilities for K-12 public education.
• Pertinent state and federal codes, statutes and regulations that govern California public charter schools.
• Standard software applications such as Microsoft Office Word/Excel/PowerPoint.
• Student disabilities definitions.
• Special education credentials.

ABILITIES:

• Display commitment to the Altus Schools achievement of its Vision, Mission, and Values.
• Work as part of an Administrative Leadership Team dedicated to growing and maintaining and environment focused on a supportive, individualized, and personalized student-learning environment.
• Exercise leadership skills, which emphasize supportive, individualized-collaboration, consensus building, conflict resolution, and problem-solving professionalism embodied in the Altus Spirit.
• Effectively communicate orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and disability backgrounds of K-12 students.
• Apply legal and policy provisions to various problems consistently and correctly.
• Keep and maintain accurate records and deadlines.