Citywide Assessment Team Manager

Citywide Assessment Team Manager

The Chicago Public Schools is responsible for completing assessment planning, evaluations, eligibility determinations and Individualized Education Programs (IEP) for the district's non-attending students in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This includes students who are transitioning from Early Intervention to Early Childhood (EI to EC), attending Head Start or CBOs (Community Based Organizations), students who are referred by the Office for Students with Disabilities Child Find Screening Team, Referrals also include students who are parentally placed in private/parochial schools, or are homeschooled within the city of Chicago.

Reporting to the Director of Citywide Assessment & Assignment, the Citywide Assessment Team (CAT) Manager will ensure that evaluation referrals made to CPS by all non-attending students are scheduled and completed in a timely manner. This includes monitoring compliance with federal regulations and state performance plan indicators. The CAT Manager will be the central point of communication for community-based staff, private school affiliates, staff, and parents.

This role will also manage several direct reports and supervise work streams for multiple teams.

The Citywide Assessment Team Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Supervise, develop, and manage the performance of the Citywide Assessment Teams, including but not limited to hiring, staffing, scheduling, training, and RISE/REACH evaluations
• Implement all procedures established by the Office for Students with Disabilities for student evaluations in accordance with state and federal mandated timelines and policies
• Ensures the completion of quality evaluations of all non-attending students in the city of Chicago, including serving as a Liaison between CATS, OSD and other CPS partners, multi-site operations and logistics, planning and implementation of additional assessment days (E.g., Saturday and Summer), stakeholder communications, and database management
• Manage registration of non-attending students in ASPEN, including scanning/uploading documents and creating referrals in SSM
• Oversee day-to-day Child Find Screening Team operations to meet obligations regarding Early Childhood referrals for SPED evaluations, including by not limited to supervision of scheduling appointments and organization of assignment/rotation of multiple teams to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the evaluation process
• Advise and train stakeholders on all aspects of the evaluation process and adhering to IDEA
• Support the review and finalization of IEPs for students found eligible in accordance with IDEA and district policies, serving as authorized representative for the District at IEP team meetings as needed, and reviewing data to engage in strategic discussions and follow-up activities
• Ensure that all students are receiving Free Appropriate Public Education (F.A.P.E.)
• Manage, monitor, and contribute to the budget and planning initiatives related to day-to-day operational and long-term goals

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Citywide Assessment Team Manager must possess the following qualifications:

• Education Required:
  
  Master's degree from an accredited university, required;
  Focus in Education and/or Education-related field, preferred
• Valid teaching certificate/Professional Educator's License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), required
• Principal/Administrator endorsement (Type 75), preferred
• REACH certification or completion of REACH certification within 4 months of hire, required
• Experience
  
  Required:
  
  Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a school or educational setting as a Related Service Provider, Case Manager or Special Education Teacher, including the following is required
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience providing training to parents, advocates and employees/staff
• Professional work experience within CPS, preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Expertise in and the ability to explain and advise on all aspects of the evaluation process and adherence to IDEA
• Knowledge of…