Special Education Monitoring Specialist

State of Maryland•Baltimore City, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is seeking a Special Education Monitoring Specialist to implement the Birth – 21 Accountability to Improve Performance (AIP) system. This system is crucial for the Division of Special Education's general supervision responsibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The AIP process monitors local public provider agencies statewide that serve infants, toddlers, young children, and youth with disabilities. It ensures compliance with federal and state regulations (20 USC § 1400, 34 CFR §§ 300 and 303, and COMAR) regarding early intervention and special education services. The role emphasizes improving educational and functional outcomes for children with disabilities by verifying data, examining evidence-based practices, documenting noncompliance, and providing technical assistance for correction. This work directly impacts the State's accountability status determined by the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

Requirements

A Master’s Degree or equivalent 36 post baccalaureate credit hours of coursework in Education, Special Education or a related field.
Four (4) years of professional administrative experience in or affiliated with a special education or early intervention program.
Candidate may substitute a bachelor's degree and two additional years of the required experience for the required education.
Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree at an accredited college or university in a field related to the position for one year of the required experience.
Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Education Program classifications or Education Program specialty codes in the Education field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.
One (1) year of experience in special education monitoring or two (2) years of experience in a special education leadership role at the local level.
Applicants must consent to State and FBI (CJIS) background check.

Nice To Haves

Experience with trends, regulations, policies, and issues governing early intervention and special education programs.
Experience working with programs that address 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.
Experience collecting, managing, and analyzing data and information.

Responsibilities

Conducts on-site monitoring activities to determine compliance of Local Infants and Toddlers Programs (LITP), Local Education Agencies (LEA), and Public Agencies (PA) with IDEA and COMAR for children with disabilities, Birth – 21.
Engages in desk audits of LITP, LEA, and PA data.
Reviews LITP, LEA, and PA documents for sufficiency to determine compliance with IDEA and COMAR for infants, toddlers, young children, and youth with disabilities and their families.
Collects and reviews data to identify State and federal requirements needing compliance verification in LITPs, LEAs, and PAs.
Assists LITPs, LEAs, and PAs in developing processes that ensure compliance and support improved results for children with disabilities, Birth – 21.
Compiles and drafts formal reports to LITPs, LEAs, and PAs on monitoring results and reports data-driven self-assessments for improved student results and compliance.
Serves as the Division Contact for the DSE State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR).
Coordinates and maintains the DSE SPP/APR to support goals and objectives for individual indicators.
Collaborates with other divisions within the Department, task forces, work groups, advocacy organizations, and professional organizations as requested.
Provides lead technical assistance and support to Division Branch Chiefs aligned with the State Performance Plan and for reporting Annual Performance results.