Job Description:
Classification: Administrative Location: District
Reports to: Director of Exceptional Programs FLSA Status: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: N/A (215 working days 7.5 hours per day)
Position Summary: The Exceptional Programs Compliance Specialist is primarily responsible for ensuring that the Board of Education, Superintendent, and employees are following the rules and regulations of regulatory agencies including but not limited to the area of Special Education, Manifestations, Charter School Compliance in the area of Special Education while adhering to Taos Municipal Schools Policy and Procedures.
Supervision: The Exceptional Programs Compliance Specialist works with a high level of independence and professional discretion under the general supervision of a designated district administrator. The Compliance Specialists work is governed, controlled, and evaluated by acceptable professional practice, school and district policies and regulations, provisions of Taos Municipal Schools district policies and procedures, direction of the supervisor, and performance standards and expectations as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement.
Duties and Responsibilities listed may include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Must maintain knowledge of all current statutes and regulations/ procedures related to Special Education, 504, Hearing Officer, Charter School Authorizer.
2. Responsible for planning, training, implementing, and monitoring a comprehensive system for auditing Special Education records, Manifestation Determination hearings, and Charter School records to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
3. Works with Special Education teachers, IEP Specialists, Ancillary staff, and the Director of Exceptional Programs, Directors of Charter Schools, Counselors, Human Resources, Benefits Department, and Principals to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and procedures.
4. Responsible for the training of District Case Managers on targeted goal setting and understanding of evaluative reports. Provides coaching to Case Managers to ensure proper training implementation during IEPs.
5. Conducts ongoing monitoring of the due process paperwork district wide ensuring that all aspects of IEPs, and Student Manifestation Determination meetings are properly documented following local, state, and federal procedures and regulations (to include but not limited to goal setting, excusal forms, accommodation and modifications implementation and documentation, assistive technology, progress notes, special programs logs, special consideration forms, justification notice, prereferral from etc.).
6. Addresses all areas of non-compliance and identifies strategies and procedures for district wide compliance and Charter School Compliance.
7. Coordinates and implements trainings for LEAs in district, attends IEP and Eligibility meetings in role of LEA as needed. Attends IEP meetings to audit school site LEA representation in meetings.
8. Responsible for implementing an educational program for parents and community on various aspects of the Special Education laws with a goal of fostering communication, understanding and trust between parents/community and school personnel.
10. Responsible for identifying potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; develops/implements corrective active plans for resolution of problematic issues and provides general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar situations in the future.
11. Works in concert with district administrators to provide one-on-one and group training sessions for Special Education teachers, ancillary staff, classroom staff, counselors, charter school staff, and district school site administrators on compliance and procedural issues and special education technology.
12. Maintains, in conjunction with district technology staff, Tienet or approved Special Education software programs. Audits and monitors Tienet or approved software programs for data integrity and compliance with required reports
15. As needed, required to prepare weekly reports and submission of documentation to the Public Education Department or other regulatory agencies in fulfillment of any corrective action and/or audit deficiencies.
16. Attends state meetings representing district in gathering information on State Standards, Federal Regulations and pertinent information related to Special Education, Student Discipline and Charter School Authorization.
 Minimum Qualifications:
· Master’s degree
· Valid teaching certification issued by NM PED (Special Education Preferred)
· Valid administrative certification issued by NMPED
· Ability to effectively communicate with parents, students, and staff verbally and in writing.