Director of Family Support and Dispute Resolution

State of Maryland•Baltimore City, MD

About The Position

This is a management position serving as Director of the Family Support and Dispute Resolution Branch (FSDR). This position manages, directs and, coordinates staff activities in developing and implementing strategies to ensure local school systems and other public agencies comply with state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to the education of students with disabilities. This includes the requirement of the core program requirements in Part B and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and establishing goals and objectives in completing investigations of alleged violations of the requirements.

Requirements

Education: A Juris Doctorate or Bachelor’s Degree with coursework in Education, Special Education, or a related field.
Experience: Five years of administrative or teaching (school-based or district-based) experience in, or affiliated with, special education programs, complaint investigation, due process, compliance, student advocacy and/ or the provision of special education services to students with disabilities.
At least 1 year of experience managing and supervising the work of professional staff.
Applicants must consent to a State and FBI (CJIS) background check as a routine procedure for all employees.

Nice To Haves

Experience interpreting and applying special education laws, regulations, policies, programs, and issues with governing early intervention and special education programs.
Experience engaging complaint investigation processes, school system due process rules, requirements, and associated data tracking systems.
Experience responding effectively to problems and inquiries from educational agencies, school personnel, parents, and other concerned stakeholders.
Experience conducting legal research and managing multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership and direction to the Family Support and Dispute Resolution Branch (FSDR)
Supervision and oversight of the Branch State Complaint Section.
Supervision and oversight of the Branch Family Support Section.
Liaises with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) regarding due process hearings and mediations.
Directs and supervises staff in completing tasks to ensure general and specific timelines are met.
Builds and improves internal policies, processes, and training for all areas of the branch, including investigations, authoring of Letters of Finding, monitoring of corrective actions, handling of requests for reconsideration, and all aspects of family support.
Oversees and ensures that the branch timely responds to FERPA and PIA requests.
Provides technical assistance through professional learning and other opportunities to LEA Compliance Managers and Special Education Directors regarding special education compliance, state cases, new legislation, new agency guidance, and related issues.
Provides technical assistance in all matters related to state and federal special education regulations to stakeholders and agency personnel.
Contact appropriate LEA staff, as appropriate, to ensure correction and compliance.
Assists with the drafting of technical assistance and guidance documents for stakeholders to ensure federal and state requirements for students with special education needs birth through 21 are understood and disseminated.
Develops, implements and assesses strategies to implement the regulatory requirement of Part B and Part C of the IDEA.
Advises and recommends to the Assistant State Superintendent strategies to meet applicable regulations in including corrective actions, technical, assistance and other methods.
Ensures an equitable flow of assignments to staff.
Provides direct assistance and opportunities for training to staff to ensure assignments are satisfactorily completed.
Reviews and signs all Letters of Finding, and reviews other written material developed by Branch staff and reviews and/or prepares draft regulation as required as requested by the Assistant State Superintendent.
Develops statewide capacity in a variety of early and alternative dispute resolution modalities.
Oversees Family Support staff and further develops family support programs, policies, and practices
Ensures Public Agencies make changes in policy procedure, and practice determined necessary by the Assistant State Superintendent.
Maintains regular contact with the Office of the Attorney General regarding Department matters and Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) regarding their responsibility for conducting special education due process hearings and mediation consistent with state and federal law/regulations and recommends training and other technical assistance needed by Administrative Law Judges fulfilling their responsibilities under the IDEA.
Communicates with local Superintendents of schools, assistant/deputy superintendents, directors of special education, and advocates including state-wide associations and parent attorneys regarding dispute resolution, compliance, and other relevant policy matters.
Creates presentations, as requested by the Assistant State Superintendent, and for Compliance Managers and LEA Directors, regarding federal and state special education matters, state initiatives, legislation, cases, etc.