About KIPP Baltimore:

KIPP is a non-profit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools serving elementary, middle and high school students. Our schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students in Baltimore City. KIPP Baltimore was founded in 2002 with the opening of KIPP Ujima Village Academy middle school. In 2009, KIPP Harmony Academy was launched, and they now collectively serve more than 1,500 kindergarten through eighth grade students each day. Both schools are operated by KIPP Baltimore, whose mission is together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

In addition to the high-quality academic opportunities that students receive while attending KIPP Harmony Academy and KIPP Ujima Village Academy, KIPP Baltimore also makes a long-term investment in our students both while they are at KIPP schools and beyond through the KIPP Forward program. KIPP Forward supports and guides students to gain admission to college-preparatory high schools and helps them succeed and stay on the path to and through college and careers. Today, our KIPP Forward program serves more than 1,100 KIPP alumni. More than 90 percent of our alumni have graduated from high school within four years and 70 percent have matriculated to college.

KIPP Baltimore is part of the national Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP), a network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in educationally underserved communities throughout the United States. KIPP is a non-profit network of 280 college-preparatory, public charter schools serving nearly 175,000 elementary, middle and high school students.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Compliance and IEP Development Manager provides support and technical assistance to school staff as it relates to the implementation plan, the individualized education program (IEP) process and least restrictive environment (LRE) in order to ensure compliance with special education federal, state and local regulations. Provides technical assistance and training to central office and school-based staff to ensure that IEP teams make high-quality decisions for students with disabilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Compliance and IEP Development Manager responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Compliance Management

• Develops and disseminates technical assistance and guidance materials to ensure consistent implementation of policies and regulations by all school employees including teachers, related services staff and administrators as it relates to students with IEPs.
• Monitors data in collaboration with the Special Education data team in the Office of Assessment and Administration at City Schools to ensure Maryland online IEP updates and revisions are available for easy and timely access by IEP team members.
• Works collaboratively with the Third-Party Billing Office, the legal department and all other offices supporting special education to assure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
• conduct bi-annual audits of our IEP folders, online documents, and MD IEP Online. Implement plans to address the outcomes of bi-annual audits to improve compliance and management.
• Assist the Director of Special Education for KIPP Baltimore and the Principal with the evaluation of the IEP Team Associate (school based) according to established procedures.
• Manages our IEP Team Associates to ensure compliance to district, state and federal guidelines and laws.
• Apply knowledge of disciplinary issues related to students with disabilities and preventive strategies to review and consider in the IEP development process.
• Apply knowledge of instructional practices and academic interventions/supports regarding students with disabilities.
• Supports case management either as the direct case manager or to support the development of case management skills among specialists. (e.g., annual IEP meetings, re-evaluations, eligibility meetings, progress monitoring, maintaining confidentiality, etc.)

IEP Development Training and Support

• Organizes and provides professional development and technical assistance to school-based staff that will support teachers, administrators and related services staff in developing and implementing IEPs and/or educational placement decisions.
• Works collaboratively with the school-based IEP Team Associates to provide technical support to schools in the development implementation and monitoring of high quality standards-based IEPs.
• Works collaboratively with City Schools staff from the Office of Special Education to access and develop training for our IEP Team Associates, school-based Leadership team members, or school-based Special Education teams to promote the effective writing and development of IEPs and related documents.
• Attends district professional development sessions for IEP Chairs, as needed
• Observe and provide feedback to IEP Team Associates in ongoing coaching meetings on their preparation for and facilitation of IEP meetings.
• Conduct Weekly O3s to provide coaching and support to IEP Team Associates and our Technical Support Person.
• Lead IEP Team Associate meetings, including the Technical Support Person, to monitor progress and manage resources.
• Attends IEP team meetings to support the IEP team in planning for the needs of the special education student (potentially serve as the Principal Designee)

Teacher Development and Coaching

• Supporting teachers with designing and implementing rigorous and culturally responsive strategies that meet the learning needs of students with disabilities
• Provides instructional coaching in all academic areas which includes student-centered observation-feedback cycles with individual teachers focused on improving student outcomes through effective instruction and assessment
• Collaborates with teachers and provides specific strategies for improved instructional delivery with research-based instructional strategies and interventions to improve achievement for all students
• Co-teaches and/or models lessons as needed to support teacher development
• Supporting teachers in deepening their knowledge of specially designed instruction while aligning standards, curriculum, and assessment across multi- grade classrooms
• Makes recommendations on best practices for supporting teachers in delivering grade appropriate content while making appropriate accommodations based on information in the IEP and student needs
• Supports teachers in reviewing curriculum to identify ways to provide access for students with disabilities
• Reviews and provides feedback on teacher-developed lesson plans, unit plans and assessments
• Collaborates with the Director of Special Education and School Leaders in determining appropriate resources and support for teachers (as needed, conduct formal evaluations, manage PIPs, or enact progressive discipline in accordance with City Schools policies)
• Leads teacher study groups to increase content and pedagogical knowledge as needed
• Supporting teachers in understanding, analyzing and utilizing data to support equitable student access to learning and to improve instructional practice
• Builds teacher capacity in effectively using formative data to inform instruction

Serve as a full-time and engaged member of KIPP Baltimore’s staff.

QUALIFICATIONS/ SKILLS:

• A passion for the mission of KIPP Baltimore.
• Master's degree in special education or a related service area. Degrees must be from an accredited college or institution.
• Valid Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and Advanced Professional Certificate required.
• Three years of teaching and/or related services experience working with students with special needs.
• Up to two years as an IEP Team Associate or IEP Chair.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and state legislation and guidelines governing the education of students with disabilities.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and state legislation guidelines governing the IEP process.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of school staff, community agencies, and federal, state and local officials.
• Effective leadership and management skills that demonstrate the ability to accomplish successful educational outcomes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to make effective presentations to diverse audiences.
• Interpersonal skills that ensure effective team building.
• Organizational, management, leadership and supervisory skills.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability of work products.
• Knowledge of the public education reform landscape is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher)

POSITION TYPE: This person will need to be certified in special education and can be hired as a teacher, or as an Education Associate, for Baltimore City Public Schools. They will serve grades K-8 as a member of the Regional Team.

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: KIPP Baltimore is committed to the ideal of diversity in its student body and in its faculty and staff. KIPP Baltimore does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnicity. We are strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.

TO APPLY: Please submit an online application at our website at http://www.kippbaltimore.org/content/apply/.

Compensation and benefits are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.