PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV-DOE - 48001432 1

Requisition No: 818350 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV-DOE - 48001432 1

Position Number: 48001432 

Salary:  $48,140.52 - $57,768.60 

Posting Closing Date: 05/21/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Department of Education

Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services

Location: Tallahassee Turlington Building

Program Specialist IV – Career Service

Salary Range: $48,140.52 – $57,768.60

CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY.

Mission of the Bureau

The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services administers programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, the bureau coordinates student services throughout the state and participates in multiple inter-agency efforts designed to strengthen the quality and variety of services available to eligible students with disabilities.

Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Web Page

Job Description

In this position, the candidate will serve as a compliance specialist providing oversight of monitoring the assigned districts, investigating state complaints, and assisting in carrying out administrative remedies as required by the procedural safeguards for parents of students with disabilities. In this capacity, you will assume critical responsibilities related to the implementation of the requirements of federal and state laws specifically as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Florida Statues and State Board of Education Rules.

Who We’re Looking For

If you are looking for a new career opportunity in a diverse working environment that provides excellent advancement opportunities, professional growth, and the opportunity to acquire professional certifications, the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services is seeking motivated individuals to join our amazing team that exhibits the following qualities: Team Player, Effective Communicator, Goals and Achievement Oriented, Adaptable, Dependable, Self-motivated.

Duties and Responsibilities

(Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has an open position that is responsible for executing the following functions:

The employee must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities, and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The employee must interact courteously with others. The employee’s performance and behavior must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit. Attendance is an essential function of this position.

State Performance Plan

1. Collaborates with other bureau staff as a team leader/participant on State Performance Plan (SPP) indicator team(s)
2. Demonstrates a thorough understanding and knowledge of the indicator measurement, related data, improvement activities, and SPP/Annual Performance Report (APR) calendar
3. Participates in indicator team meetings
4. In the context of team activities, reviews indicator data to evaluate progress and slippage and design/evaluate improvement activities
5. Assists team leader in preparing the required sections of the SPP/APR in accordance with the established calendar
6. As travel schedule permits, participates in national calls, as applicable.

Dispute Resolution

7. Conducts investigations for state complaint inquiries
8. Tracks district corrective actions and provides technical assistance to support timely correction of noncompliance
9. Reviews on an ongoing basis state and federal laws, regulations, hearings, court cases or case law, and policy interpretations pertaining to the education of students with disabilities and students in gifted education for the purpose of ensuring the dissemination of accurate information to school districts and parents
10. Assists with the resolution of disagreements between parents and school districts by facilitating mediation, communication, providing information, and by using a variety of problem-solving techniques and alternative resolution options
11. Coordinates or assists in scheduling state-sponsored mediation and providing technical assistance and update trainings for mediators
12. Provides technical assistance related to due process hearings
13. Maintains or reviews appropriate records for trend data
14. Assists with data analysis and reporting related to dispute resolution
15. Will assist other sections as related to their expertise
16. Performs other related duties as assigned

Monitoring

17. Coordinates/conducts monitoring activities related to assigned districts in accordance with the bureau’s monitoring system, which may include on-site visits to school districts, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, correctional facilities, juvenile justice facilities, and other agencies to determine compliance with state and federal regulations
18. Maintains or reviews appropriate records for trend data
19. Tracks district corrective actions and provides technical assistance to support timely correction of noncompliance
20. Produces timely and accurate written reports of monitoring activities
21. Coordinates the reporting of funding adjustments resulting from compliance monitoring
22. Supports the development and implementation of the bureau’s web-based General Supervision monitoring system
23. Will assist other sections as related to their expertise
24. Performs other related duties as assigned

Legal Proficiency

25. Remains abreast of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to exceptional students and of policy interpretations held by the United States Department of Education and the FDOE
26. Participates in or coordinates the development, dissemination, and tracking of the Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (P&P) document
27. Assists in the revision of State Board of Education rules to ensure conformity with state statutes and federal legal provisions
28. Analyzes legislative bill proposals for potential impact on exceptional student education (ESE) policies, procedures and programs
29. Participates in or coordinates the annual updating of the Exceptional Student Education Compliance Manual

Technical Assistance

30. Develops and provides technical assistance, support and information related to ESE compliance and regulations through written and oral communication with parents, school districts and other agency staff
31. Collaborates with other bureau and/or FDOE staff through workgroups and special assignments to assist districts in assigned area(s) of expertise
32. Provides technical assistance, information and support to ESE programs through the integration and analysis of available data, including the results of compliance monitoring, district-specific information in P&P documents, dispute resolution data and district performance data
33. Represents the bureau in state and national forums in areas of assigned responsibility
34. Develops and/or revises technical assistance documents, as assigned
35. Provides technical support and serves as project liaison to programs and projects, as assigned

Office Contact

• Erin Leathers or Jacqueline Roumou, 850-245-0475

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of policies, practices, and procedures affecting ESE and related federal laws and regulations and state statutes and rules
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Organizational skills, to include self-monitoring of assignments, meeting timelines and anticipating the needs of the team
• Ability to work effectively alone and as a team member
• Ability to effectively communicate with school district personnel, families, advocacy organizations and other professional groups
• Ability to organize information, data and processes to produce high-quality products
• Ability to self-monitor schedule of assignments, meet timelines, and work effectively alone and as a team member

Minimum Qualifications

• Four to six years of professional experience working with students with disabilities,
• Ability to communicate effectively including verbal and written communication.
• Ability to travel

Preferred Qualifications

Preferences will be given to applicants who have excellent writing skills, presentation experience and an educational legal background.

Educational Substitutions

SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or University in Education or;
• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in special education.

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Additional Benefits Information

• State of Florida Retirement package – 3% employee contribution required
• Health Insurance for Individual or Family Coverage – Employee pays (Individual $8.34/month or Family $30.00/month)
• Life Insurance – State pays 100% of premium
• Additional supplemental insurances available such as dental, vision, etc.
• Tax Deferred Medical and Child Care Reimbursement Accounts available
• Tax Deferred Savings Program available through payroll deduction

LEAVE INFORMATION

• • Annual Leave – Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are be credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of initial appointment.
  • Sick Leave – Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions shall be credited with 104 hours of sick leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of initial appointment.

APPLICATION NOTES

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers of all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed. Gaps of employment of 3 months or more MUST be addressed on application.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history.
• Periods of employment should be entered with the most recent/current listed first.

• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation (DD214).
• If claiming Right to Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying.
• All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications.

Selective Services System (SSS)

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. For more information, please visit the Social Security website.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.