Alternate Assessment Specialist

Ohio Department of Administrative Services•Columbus, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Serves as an unclassified employee pursuant to Section 3301.13 R.C. and performs the following duties in the Office of Assessment: Coordinates and oversees the development and administration of Ohio’s alternate academic and English language proficiency assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities; Develops, presents, and/or provides resources for the administration of Ohio’s statewide assessments: Communicates assessment policies established by state, federal, and Department statute, regulation, and/or policy; Oversees contracts for quality and accuracy of content and deliverables and for compliance to ensure statewide assessments and related materials are developed, formatted, reviewed, printed, and distributed to districts/schools by deliverable dates; Provides ongoing planning and communication with contractors regarding the development of assessments and ancillary materials, administration procedures, scoring, and reporting; Monitors contractors to ensure effective item development and implementation of the statewide assessments, especially the alternate assessments; Participates in quality control of online and paper-based statewide assessments; Ensures contractors’ adherence to established timelines and contractual obligations and performance Interprets and explains testing policies and state participation guidelines including appropriate eligibility for alternate assessments and application of test accessibility and accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners with disabilities; Provides technical assistance to school officials, parents, students, and the public regarding the administration of statewide assessments in accordance state, federal, and Department statute, regulation, and/or policy (e.g., assists with understanding administration process and results): Ensures current assessment information is available through a variety of sources (e.g., web, email, newsletters, webinars, social media, reports); Reviews changing state and federal laws, best practices, educational data, and research and recommends policy changes as needed; Monitors state test progress and test security incidents according to established rules and procedures; Processes student testing alerts according to rules and procedures; Facilitates and/or attends committee meetings; Develops training materials and presentations and presents information to groups. Performs other duties as assigned. The work location of this position is 25 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You will be required to report to this work location full-time, if selected. If this position is filled with an internal employee who has an approved telework agreement, the employee may be required to report in-person during the initial training period.

Requirements

Six years’ experience in any combination of the following areas:
Working in an educational setting (e.g., K-12, higher education) in one of the following capacities (e.g., educational administrator or teacher with experience in development of districtwide/schoolwide curriculum/assessments)
Monitoring and ensuring compliance with contractual specifications, program requirements, timelines for deliverables
Interpreting statute and code, law (e.g., operating standards, Ohio Revised Code, Ohio Administrative Code, state/federal requirements and guidelines), providing assistance to stakeholders
Performing one of the following (i.e., measurement/psychometrics, educational policy development, assessment/evaluation) in a government and/or educational setting

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or equivalent post-bachelor course work
Experience teaching students with low incidence and communication disabilities
Knowledge of student assessment or educational measurement, public education procedures, and/or contract oversight
Knowledge of test accessibility and accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners with disabilities
Ability to analyze data, define problems, recommend solutions, and handle sensitive information with school personnel, vendors, and the public
Able to use current technology, including computers and online testing technology
Commitment to excellence, professionalism, strong interpersonal communication skills, good judgment of situations, excellent customer service, and solution driven
Interest in professional growth and development, willingness to learn policies/procedures/manuals
Competency in program improvement in content, methods, and materials

Responsibilities

Coordinates and oversees the development and administration of Ohio’s alternate academic and English language proficiency assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities
Develops, presents, and/or provides resources for the administration of Ohio’s statewide assessments
Communicates assessment policies established by state, federal, and Department statute, regulation, and/or policy
Oversees contracts for quality and accuracy of content and deliverables and for compliance to ensure statewide assessments and related materials are developed, formatted, reviewed, printed, and distributed to districts/schools by deliverable dates
Provides ongoing planning and communication with contractors regarding the development of assessments and ancillary materials, administration procedures, scoring, and reporting
Monitors contractors to ensure effective item development and implementation of the statewide assessments, especially the alternate assessments
Participates in quality control of online and paper-based statewide assessments
Ensures contractors’ adherence to established timelines and contractual obligations and performance
Interprets and explains testing policies and state participation guidelines including appropriate eligibility for alternate assessments and application of test accessibility and accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners with disabilities
Provides technical assistance to school officials, parents, students, and the public regarding the administration of statewide assessments in accordance state, federal, and Department statute, regulation, and/or policy (e.g., assists with understanding administration process and results)
Ensures current assessment information is available through a variety of sources (e.g., web, email, newsletters, webinars, social media, reports)
Reviews changing state and federal laws, best practices, educational data, and research and recommends policy changes as needed
Monitors state test progress and test security incidents according to established rules and procedures
Processes student testing alerts according to rules and procedures
Facilitates and/or attends committee meetings
Develops training materials and presentations and presents information to groups
Performs other duties as assigned