Special Education Department Chair

Special Education Department Chair

The Department chair is responsible for overseeing the function and efficiency of the building's Special Education Department, in addition to coordinating evaluation team meetings, completing required paperwork, and completing academic evaluations, as required by the local education agency, the RI Department of Education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004, in order to assess whether a disability is present. In addition to, the Department Chair will work closely with the principals and teachers in the schools, central office personnel, parents, and with those institutions and agencies in the community interested in services for children with disabilities.

The Special Education Department Chair's immediate supervisor is the building Principal. Exemplary duties and responsibilities include: coordinating and chairing the evaluation team, collaborating with the Systems Manager to review all pertinent data to inform decisions, overseeing the referral process and scheduling the referrals in compliance with the IDEA evaluation timelines, supporting case managers and ensuring that IEP's and other required paperwork are completed in a timely manner following evaluation.

The Department Chair will also review all evaluation/RTI data and present data to the team in a comprehensive manner, administer and complete education evaluations, coordinate grade level transition meetings with staff and administration at the end of each academic year (school to school), coordinate meetings with outside agencies, such as but not limited to, Office of Rehabilitation Liaison between regular education and special education, insure that the school administration and special educators follow and implement all federal and state mandates outlined by IDEA, coordinate regularly scheduled meetings with the special education staff, responsible for scheduling an IEP team meeting, including the Special Education Director or Assistant Special Education Director, when placement or change in service decisions need to be made.

Assist building administration, guidance and central office with the development of caseloads and student schedules, which includes placement of students in the least restrictive environment, monitoring the quality of special education service delivery, coordination of all transition activities, review all special education documents prior to the presentation to the IEP or evaluation team to insure high quality and compliance, planning and delivery of professional development in the area, but not limited to, the following topics: IDEA regulations and district protocol for the evaluation and delivery of services to students with disabilities.

Transition tools, activities, assessment and mandates. Co-teaching and other inclusive models Specialized instruction Writing IEP's Progress monitoring IEP goals and Objectives Interpreting evaluation results and how this translates to program placement and IEP development The use of RTI data in determining disability On-going dissemination of current special education district information to case managers and special education support staff. Membership in TAC Development of the agenda and presentation of materials at regularly scheduled special education department meetings Provide support to the Special Educators in the building Any other duties assigned by the Director of Special Education, Assistant Director of Special Education or school /district administrators.