Supervisor of Special Education Data and Policy; Education Program Supervisor

Introduction

The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world‑class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee state and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland.

Grade: State;
Salary Grade: 22

Location: Nancy S. Grasmick Education Building, 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

This position serves as the Supervisor of Data and Policy for the Family Support and Dispute Resolution Branch and is responsible for ensuring systemic compliance, accountability, and strategic policy development under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The position directs the review of branch‑level legal and policy documents, leads corrective action processes resulting from IDEA dispute resolution findings, and oversees branch‑wide data collection and reporting to satisfy state, federal, and internal programmatic metrics.

This position develops and coordinates professional learning and technical assistance for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Public Agencies (PAs) to support correction of noncompliance, handles complex state complaints, and implements systems of accountability across the branch. Working collaboratively with the Branch Director and the Supervisor of Dispute Resolution, the incumbent develops comprehensive policies to expand early and alternative dispute resolution initiatives, analyzes data and discovers trends in special education disputes, and builds and provides responsive TA to stakeholder groups.

• Supervises staff who oversee corrective actions and data and provides policy review, data, and accountability for Family Support and Dispute Resolution.
• Conducts quality assurance and reviews of legal documents, policy statements, and formal decisions issued by the FSDR branch to ensure alignment with IDEA, applicable COMAR regulations, and MSDE policy.
• Serves as FSDR’s principal expert on the interpretation and application of special education law.
• Designs, implements, and maintains robust internal and external systems of accountability across the FSDR branch to measure the overall efficacy of compliance monitoring and IDEA dispute resolution systems.
• Develops, coordinates, and implements an annual plan for professional learning and technical assistance reflecting state, regional, and local priorities and concerns, and which is responsive to trends emerging in Family Support data and IDEA Dispute Resolution data.
• Collaborates with family support services staff to collect statewide data for Family Support Networks, Preschool Partners, and Partners for Success Centers focusing on data measuring the impact of services and supports provided to families, as well as identifying trends for statewide TA, professional development, and effectiveness of the system of family support.
• Identifies trends in dispute resolution data and develops training and supports for LEAs and parents to implement and utilize informal dispute resolution processes.
• Manages, reviews, and investigates complex, sensitive, or high‑profile state complaints at the request of the Director, FSDR.
• Oversees the development of internal systems, implementation, and tracking of corrective actions assigned to LEAs and PAs resulting from IDEA state complaint investigations.
• Develops effective systems of IDEA enforcement and accountability to ensure that all noncompliance related to IDEA dispute resolution is durably corrected within mandated timelines.
• Provides development and oversight of the PIA response process for the Division of Special Education.

Education: A Juris Doctorate, Master’s Degree, or equivalent 36 post‑baccalaureate credit hours of coursework in Education, Special Education or a related field.

Experience: Four years of legal, policy, administrative, compliance, accountability, or teaching experience in, or affiliated with, a special education or other disability program.

Notes: Candidates may substitute the possession of a…