Disputes Education Program Consultant, Division Of Special Education

Iowa Department of Education's mission is creating excellence in education through leadership and service. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to make this a reality.

Responsibilities Include -

• Support and maintain routines, procedures related to effective implementation of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements with emphasis on dispute resolution, Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS), and Indicators B4 and B9. Provide support for dispute prevention and resolution. This includes working with stakeholders ensuring procedural safeguards as well as student and guardian rights are maintained. Work with schools to ensure a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is maintained.
• Support work that provides a continuum of services to students with disabilities so they can be successful. This work includes mediating dispute resolutions and maintaining communication with schools, parents, students and legal counsel, when appropriate. Ensuring alignment of vocabulary and materials across initiatives, conducting needs assessment, planning professional learning opportunities, and evaluating the effectiveness of efforts to prevent and resolve disputes in the state of Iowa.
• Develop and deliver professional learning to districts and schools regarding common causes of disputes.
• Support districts and staff providing IEP supports to provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) including all safeguards and that rights are met. Provide professional learning on meeting the federally required components of IDEA across the grades and learning content areas.
• Support and provide technical assistance to districts in the following: 1. Written and signed complaints that alleges a violation of a requirement of Part C of IDEA of 34 CFR Part 303. 2. Mediation requests, which are defined as a request by a party to a dispute involving any matter under Part C of IDEA, for the parties to meet with a qualified and impartial mediator to resolve the dispute(s). 3. Due process complaints, which are defined as a filing by a parent or early intervention service provider or lead agency to initiate an impartial due process hearing on matters relating to the identification, evaluation, or placement of an infant or toddler with a disability (IDEA), or to the provision of appropriate early intervention services to the child.
• Work with administrative consultants and other EPCs across the Department and division to integrate and align services, reporting and compliance requirements with state and federal law.
• Support the Department priorities through performing other duties as assigned by bureau chief or administrative consultant.

What's in it for you?-

Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities

Collaborative, positive work environment

Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow

Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country

Employee discounts from a variety of vendors

Competitive salary and benefits package that includes:

- Insurance: Health, Dental, Life and Long-Term Disability

- IPERS (Iowa Public Employee Retirement System) and Retirement Investor Club (RIC)

- Time Off and Leave: Sick, Vacation, Family and Military Leave

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and five years of full-time post-graduate work experience in any one or a combination of the following areas:

a. Professional training, teaching, or counseling experience in an educational setting;

b. Professional administrative experience in an educational setting;

c. Professional personnel administration including such areas as job analysis, performance appraisal systems, selection devices, or labor relations;

d. Professional finance, accounting, or auditing experience including the preparation or analysis of financial statements;

e. Professional experience in a major technical program area utilized by the Iowa Department of Education or Board of Educational Examiners.

2) A combination of a total of five years of post-graduate education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited post-graduate college or university course work equals one year of full-time experience.

3) Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree, possession of a valid Iowa Teaching Certificate, and three academic years of teaching and/or administrative experience in PK-12 and/or a post-secondary educational institution.

4) Possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and seven years of full-time professional experience in finance, accounting, or auditing, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.