Special Education Monitoring Specialist Education Program Specialist I

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.

State Salary Grade 21

Salary Range: $93,138 - $146,883

• State Salary Guidelines may apply for current State employees.

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

The primary purpose of this position is to implement the Birth – 21 Accountability to Improve Performance (AIP) system that is an integral part of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Special Education (DSE) general supervision responsibility under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The AIP process serves to monitor local public provider agencies (Statewide) serving infants, toddlers, young children, and youth with disabilities and their families in the implementation of the 20 USC

• 1400, 34 CFR
• 300 and 303, and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) as it pertains to the provision of early intervention and special education services. The process ensures emphasis is placed on those requirements that are most closely related to improving educational and functional outcomes for children with disabilities, Birth through 21, by verifying data, examining the implementation of evidence-based practices, documenting noncompliance with the IDEA regulatory requirements, and providing technical assistance for the timely correction of noncompliance.
  
  These activities raise State accountability on federally specified indicators and have a direct result in how the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) makes a performance determination status of the State.

Implements the Accountability for Improved Performance (AIP) activities including, but not limited to:

• Conducts on-site monitoring activities that determine the Local Infants and Toddlers Program (LITP), Local Education Agency (LEA) and Public Agency (PA) compliance with the IDEA and COMAR as it pertains to children with disabilities, Birth – 21.
• Engages in desk audits of local infants and toddlers programs, local education agencies, and public agencies data;
• Reviews local infants and toddlers programs, local education agencies, and public agencies documents for sufficiency to determine compliance with the IDEA and COMAR as each pertains to infants, toddlers, young children, and youth with disabilities and their families.
• Collects and reviews data to select those State and federal requirements requiring verification of compliance in LITPs, LEAs, and PAs.
• Assists the LITPs, LEAs, and PAs in developing processes that ensure compliance and supports improved results for children with disabilities, Birth – 21.
• Reviews LITPs, LEAs, and PAs documents for sufficiency to determine compliance with the IDEA and COMAR as each pertain to infants, toddlers, young children, and youth with disabilities and their families.
• Compiles and draft formal reports to LITPs, LEAs, and PAs on the results of monitoring activities and reports data-driven self-assessments for improved results for students with disabilities and compliance with prescribed federal and State laws and regulations.
• Serves as Division Contact for DSE State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR).
• Coordinates and maintains the DSE SPP/APR in support of the goals and objectives established to meet the individual indicators; and
• Collaborates with other divisions within the Department, task forces, work groups, advocacy organizations, professional organizations, as requested by the Branch Chief or Assistant State Superintendent.
• Provides lead technical assistance and support to Division Branch Chiefs aligned with State Performance Plan and for reporting Annual Performance results.

Education: A Master’s Degree or equivalent 36 post baccalaureate credit hours of course work in…