Special Populations Compliance Specialist

Job Description

_ KIPP Texas: Compliance Specialist_

The Compliance Specialist will ensure adherence to federal and state regulations regarding special education, oversee the implementation of compliance initiatives, and support the development and training of staff. This role involves monitoring timelines, managing records, and providing technical support to ensure high standards of compliance within the district's special education programs.

As a leader on the Academic Programs team, the Compliance Specialist plays a crucial role in ensuring KIPP Texas realizes its mission through supporting schools and regions by providing high quality compliance oversight to programs. The compliance specialist is responsible for monitoring timelines, managing records, and providing technical support to ensure high standards of compliance within the district's special education programs.

Monitoring of these timelines ensures that students with disabilities receive ongoing support, evaluation, and adjustments to their educational plans as needed, promoting their academic and developmental progress. Each timeline is designed to meet legal requirements while also supporting the individual needs of the student. The

Compliance Specialist supports special education staff in assigned programs in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. This position plays a crucial role in promoting the academic, social, and emotional success of all students within the special education department across KIPP Texas.

_ Role Description_

● Monitoring Timelines | Tracking timelines for the provision of services outlined in the IEP, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, counseling. Monitoring timelines for conducting assessments and evaluations required for determining eligibility for special education services or for reevaluation purposes

● Professional Development and Training | Work with campuses and special education leads to understand the timelines associated with ARD's and evaluations.

● Communication | Ensures KTX state-level teams and regional teams provide excellent communication, customer service and well-coordinated support.

● Managing Records |Provide ongoing training for staff members responsible for maintaining and accessing special education records, emphasizing legal requirements and best practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Compliance Monitoring

● Oversee compliance with ARD/IEP due dates and special education evaluation timelines as per federal and state regulations.

● Track compliance percentages at the regional level and report interventions, training and support needs to the Regional Director.

● Ensure adherence to federal, state, district, and school regulations and policies for special education.

2. Training and Development:

● Provide ongoing training to regional and school-based staff to maintain high compliance levels.

● Develop and implement targeted professional learning plans to raise awareness of Special Education Operating Procedures.

● Conduct professional learning sessions and key turn training modules for TEA Special Education Compliance.

3. Records Management and Administrative Support:

● Manage special education records and provide administrative assistance to the SSP: Special Education program staff.

● Process record requests from other agencies and districts.

● Review and advise on New to KIPP paperwork.

4. Compliance Reporting and Technical Support:

● Track indicators, complete necessary training for case managers, and report missed timelines or trends to the Regional Director.

● May need to Write IEPs and lead Annual Review and/or Dismissal meetings as needed.

● Provide technical support for esped and manage the department-wide

● Maintain updated district operating guidelines for special education.

● Oversee the special education evaluation process, ensuring compliance with state and federal timelines and proper documentation.

6. Support and Coordination:

● Create systems of support for billing SHARS/Medicaid and ensure correct implementation of student IEPs.

● Assist with critical case resolution and monitor compliance with TEA Investigative Reports.

● Manage the collection and review of evidence for TEA Strategic Support Plans and State Performance Plan Indicator Corrective Actions.

● Assist with internal investigations of parent complaint requests and coordinate resolution meetings.

7. Communication and Reporting:

● Provide regular updates to schools and send email reminders for upcoming meetings.

● Send weekly reports regarding upcoming ARDs/504s/REEDs and use a compliance dashboard.

● Distribute a quarterly newsletter with TEA Special Education Compliance updates and professional learning opportunities.

8. General Duties:

● Perform all duties related to the IDEA-B formula grant.

● Maintain accurate records and organizational skills.

● Support the mission and vision of the KIPP Austin Special Education Department as assigned by the Director of Compliance.

● Be a resource for compliance-related assistance to campus personnel, including teachers, administrators, and support staff.

● Be a resource for compliance-related assistance to campus personnel, including teachers, administrators, and support staff.

● Evaluates the effectiveness of instructional methods and programs and recommends revisions and improvements as needed.

● Analyzes and interprets achievement data; and works with lead teachers/administrative staff to design activities to raise student achievement.

● Work with the Managing Director of Special Populations to plan professional development of all administrators, ensuring an understanding of special education, student support systems, and intervention strategies that benefit all students.

● Ensure compliance with, and prepare reports for, all state, federal, and local agencies.

● Develops and conducts division-wide staff development for special education instructional staff in assigned areas of responsibility.

● Conducts in-service training for instructional staff regarding instructional strategies, best practices, and specific instructional topics.

9. Other Duties:

Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned by the Managing Director of Special Populations.

Qualifications:
Qualifications

_ Education/experience Education and Knowledge:_

● Required Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university in Education, Management , or related field.

● Valid Texas Teacher Special Education Certificate with required endorsements for subject and subject level assigned Preferred

● Experience Required 3-5 Direct in Special Education or related field

● Minimum three years of experience in education including successful leadership/management outcomes preferred.

● Strong record of self-starting and taking initiative.

● Strong oral and written communication skills.

● Strong proficiency in technology skills (ESPED/ Frontline, Microsoft Office and Google Suite)

● Ability to handle multiple priorities with frequent interruptions.

● Proficiency in leading, planning, organizing, and conducting effective professional development at a district level. Skills in coaching, mentoring, building teams, problem-solving, and taking initiative.

● Effectively analyze problems, issues, and concerns and formulate appropriate alternative solutions

● Communication and relational skills to interact effectively with students, staff, parents, and community members.

● Understanding of school district organizations, operations, and administrative policies.

● Must have experience or demonstrated a desire to work in an urban school district.

● Ability to problem solve and apply research based solutions to solve problems.

● Experience with ARD meetings and best practices to lead an ARD

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is based on years of experience, degree of education, and level of expertise.

As a full-time KIPP Texas employee you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Texas' benefit plans. KIPP Texas offers a robust variety of benefits choices with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, life insurance, fertility, and disability plans starting as low as $25/month.

KIPP provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.