Title: Program Compliance Specialist
Department: Student Services Department
Assignment: Full Time - 183 days with up to 5 days in the summer
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Special Education Department Chair
Location: Highland Park High School
Salary:As a licensed position, the pay is based on our salary schedule, Appendix C in DEA Agreement

Summary:

Ensure that IEPs are well-written, compliant, and aligned to student needs; serve as LEA/District Representative during IEP meetings in accordance with all legal requirements; support staff in developing and implementing high-quality transition services; and promote appropriate placement in the least restrictive environment through effective review of student strengths, needs, and supports.

Qualifications:

Professional Educators License (PEL) required.
LBS I Required, LBS II Preferred.
Strong ability to collaborate and problem-solve with specialized school staff, special education staff, general education staff, students, and parents/guardians.
Experience collaborating with the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), including facilitating referrals, coordinating services, and supporting students through the vocational rehabilitation process.
Knowledge of and experience in transition planning requirements under IDEA, and Section 504 including development of age-appropriate transition assessments, postsecondary goals, and coordinating transition services.
Background in vocational instruction, planning and career development, such as helping students explore career pathways, develop employability skills, and accessing and creating work-based learning experiences.
Demonstrates clear articulation of content-accurate information through both oral and written communication
Ability to navigate contentious IEP meetings and resolve conflicts professionally

Essential Functions:

The criteria indicated below are intended to describe various types of work that may be performed. The exclusion of specific responsibilities does not prohibit them if the work is similar, related, or a logical task of the position.

IEP Compliance & Meetings:

Serve as the LEA/meeting participant for IEP meetings, ensuring all documents are accurate, compliant, and completed according to IDEA and ISBE requirements with a focus on but not limited to offsite and 11th grade.
Facilitate IEP meetings including complex or contentious meetings in a productive, student-centered, inclusion focused and legally compliant manner.
Complete all required IEP meeting documentation, including detailed meeting notes.
Provide LEA coverage for administrators as needed.
Review IEPs for quality and compliance and provide timely, collaborative feedback to staff.
Monitor IEP timelines, tracking, and required documentation to ensure ongoing compliance for identified students/grade bands.
Conduct regular audits of IEPs and oversee final review processes, including audit checklists.
Verify and collaborate with IEP facilitators on the quality and completion of transition planning for all students.
Provide guidance on IEPs/504 plans to case managers/504 coordinators and work collaboratively with IEP facilitators on legal compliance, IEP development, agency support, transition planning and best practices.
Offer professional development related to DRS, Transition planning, implementation, and legal mandates.
Support case managers with semester schedule reviews and facilitate amendments when needed.
Communicate effectively with parents to address questions related to DRS support, transition planning, IEPs, services, and case management.
Collaborate with school counselors on enrollment, transfers, and course selection to ensure alignment with IEP services.
Partner with Deans on behavioral concerns before disciplinary consequences are issued, ensuring appropriate interventions are considered.
Coordinate with Related Service Providers to ensure services are delivered as written and relevant information is shared..
Ensure student placements reflect the least restrictive environment (LRE) by starting in the general education setting and review the full continuum of placements as appropriate through review of student ability, needs, services, and supports.
Confirm course recommendations and programming align with each student’s IEP placement page and student needs.
Serve as Vocation teacher of record.
Support transition planning by ensuring transition assessments are completed and transition pages are individualized and updated.
Coordinate articulation meetings and transition supports for students moving between programs, buildings, or postsecondary pathways.
Serve as the district representative for offsite and out-of-building students, ensuring consistent communication and compliance.

IEP TRANSITION PLANS:

Collaborate and provide guidance to Case Managers regarding transition planning
Coach case managers and provide feedback on transition plans
Recommend language and formatting for Drafted Plans
Conduct Regular Transition Plan Audits
Distribute DRS, Agency & Opportunity Information to CMs and families
Consult on outside placement Transition Plans

TRANSITION PROCESS SUPPORT:

Parent Consultation
Support DRS-related student recruitment, referrals, enrollment, PETS documentation, and case management
Support outbound DRS referrals and documentation..
Case Manager/ 504 Coordinator Consultation

Leadership:

Promote a positive climate within the department and schools.
Commit to the development and growth of others.
Base decisions on the core values of the department.
Meet regularly with building and district leadership for development and updates.
Lead teams in incorporating an active data-analytic approach to continuous improvement.

Language Skills

Communicates clearly both verbally and in written format with all constituents of the District 113 community. Effectively present information and respond to questions from constituency groups. Apply knowledge of current research and theory in a specific field. Establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with students, staff and the school community. Perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

Mathematical and Technical Skills

Calculate figures, estimates, proportions, percentages, and cost projections. Apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Strong technology skills, including standard Microsoft Office suite / Google Workspace, financial management, and data analysis. .

Reasoning Ability

Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Interpret an extensive variety of verbal and written instructions and deal with multiple abstract and concrete variables.

Contacts Outside Your Own Department:

Build positive relationships with constituents of the District 113 community that includes, teachers, school staff, administrative team, Board of Education, guardians, students, and private providers.

Physical and Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, write, type, speak, listen, and taste or smell.
The employee is regularly required to communicate with staff and others.
The employee is frequently required to use hands and/or fingers, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls.
The employee may occasionally be required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision,depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Specific psychological demands of this job include the ability to remain calm under stress levels associated with job demands, along with constant contact with students, colleagues and the public.

Working Conditions:

In the work environment, this role is regularly exposed to office environmental conditions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate with regular exposure to loud classrooms, hallways, cafeterias or sports venues.
The employee is regularly required to meet deadlines with severe time constraints and interact with the public and staff in addition to meeting multiple demands from several people.
The employee is frequently required to work irregular or extended work hours, which may include evenings or weekends.

Safety:

As a part of the District workforce, this role is responsible for being aware of, modeling and contributing to the maintenance and implementation of all District safety policies and procedures. The role is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students.

Required to:

Use good safety awareness and judgment
Follow policies
Report potentially unsafe conditions
Follow manufacturer safety instructions when using equipment
Follow agency ergonomic policies and procedures

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.