PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV-DOE - 48003694

Requisition No: 848118 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV-DOE - 48003694

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 48003694 

Salary:  $49,584.67 - $54,543.14 

Posting Closing Date: 03/16/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Department of Education

Division of Public Schools

Bureau of Exceptional Education & Student Services

Location: Tallahassee Turlington Building

Position Title: Program Specialist IV - DOE (CS)

Salary Range: $49,584.67 - $54,543.14

This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies up to six months.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:
  • Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
  • Any position held by a Florida University
  • All periods of employment from high school graduation
  • All periods of current or prior unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
  • Any Education
  • Any Volunteer Experience
  • Your resume and application must match
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.  

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

OFFICE CONTACT:

Cheyenne Silva: 850-245-9491

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This position is assigned to the Dispute Resolution and Monitoring (DRM) section of the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS). This position primarily conducts state complaint investigations related to compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Additionally, this position assists with the State Performance Plan, Dispute Resolution, and Monitoring. The position provides technical assistance with exceptional education, regarding compliance with Federal and State requirements in accordance with IDEA.

DUTIES & 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:

Dispute Resolution:

• Conducts investigations for state complaint inquires
• Tracks district corrective actions and provides technical assistance to support timely correction of noncompliance
• 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
• Assists with the resolution of disagreements between parents and school districts by facilitating mediation, communicating, providing information, and by using a variety of problem-solving techniques and alternative resolution options
• Provides technical assistance related to state-sponsored mediation and due process hearings
• Maintains or reviews appropriate records for trend data
• Assists with data analysis and reporting related to dispute resolution
• Assists other sections as related to their expertise

State Performance Plan:

• Collaborates with other Bureau staff as a team leader/participant on State Performance Plan (SPP) indicator team(s)
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding and knowledge of the indicator measurement, related data, improvement activities, and SPP/Annual Performance Report (APR) calendar
• In the context of team activities, reviews indicator data to evaluate progress and slippage and design/evaluate improvement activities

Monitoring:

• 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
• Maintains or reviews appropriate records for trend data
• Tracks district corrective actions and provides technical assistance to support timely correction of noncompliance
• Produces timely and accurate written reports of monitoring activities
• Supports the development and implementation of the Bureau’s web-based General Supervision monitoring system
• Assists other sections as related to their expertise

Legal Proficiency:

• Remains abreast of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to exceptional students and of policy interpretations held by the USDOE and the FLDOE
• Participates in or coordinates the development, dissemination, and tracking of the Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (P&P) document
• Assists in the revision of State Board of Education rules to ensure conformity with state statute and federal legal provisions
• Analyzes legislative bill proposals for potential impact on exceptional student education policies, procedures, and programs
• Participates in or coordinates the annual updating of Exceptional Student Education Compliance Manual

Technical Assistance:

• Develops and provides technical assistance, support, and information related to exceptional student education compliance and regulations through written and oral communication with parents, school districts, and other agency staff
• Collaborates with other Bureau and/or department staff through workgroups and special assignments to assist districts in assigned area(s) of expertise
• Provides technical, 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
• Develops and/or revises technical assistance documents, as assigned

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to understand and apply Federal regulations and State rules
• Ability to communicate effectively including verbal and written communication
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Excel
• Ability to manage multiple competing tasks in a timely manner

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preference will be given to applicants who have excellent communication and writing skills and experience working with students with disabilities and/or experience conducting legal research and investigations.

EDUCATIONAL SUBSITITUIONS:

SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements.

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or University in Education or;

Related work experience may not substitute for any licensure, certification, or registration required by an agency and indicated in the advertised job description.

Bureau of Exceptional Education & Student Services Mission Statement:

The Bureau of Exceptional Education & 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.

https://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

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

LEAVE INFORMATION:

• • Annual Leave - All full-time Career Service employees filling established positions earn annual leave in varying increments dependent upon years of creditable service. Employees with up to 5 years of creditable service earn 8.667 hours per month, with 5 to 10 years earn 10.833 hours per month and those with over 10 years of service earn 13 hours per month. Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
  • Sick Leave -. Career Service employees earn 8.667 hours of sick leave credits per month.

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. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted 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, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

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 Selective Service website.

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

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.