Enrollment Compliance Manager

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600 schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Student Support and Engagement (OSSE) works with schools and networks to establish support systems to keep all students on track and engaged in school.  Student Support and Engagement (OSSE) provides comprehensive support to help students become more connected and engaged in school. We provide re-engagement services for out-of-school youth; resources to eliminate barriers for students in temporary living situations; attendance and truancy guidance for families, schools, and networks; and extended learning opportunities to enhance all students' core academic experience while engaging parents and community members in school-led activities. 

Located within the Office of Student Support and Engagement, the Department of Attendance and Enrollment supports networks, schools, and families in addressing systemic and individual needs at multiple levels to holistically take on the root causes of absence and chronic absenteeism.  

Job Summary:

TheEnrollment Compliance Manager will lead the development, implementation, and administration of standardized, district-wide student enrollment strategies, policies, and practices to ensure adherence to state and local enrollment regulations. This position will drive continuous improvement initiatives, leverage data-driven strategies, and foster strong partnerships to promote a seamless enrollment process that empowers students and families. The Enrollment Compliance Manager will lead direct reporting professionals and will report to the Director of Attendance and Enrollment.

The Enrollment Compliance Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Director of Attendance and Enrollment, define clear, impactful strategic goals for student enrollment in alignment with district priorities
• Develop, implement, and manage standardized student enrollment strategies, policies, and procedures in alignment with applicable CPS policies, board rules, as well as state and local regulations
• Engage in regular, effective, cross-functional collaboration with school-based and various central office departments to gather feedback, gain an understanding of student enrollment-related challenges, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement, enhancements, and technology solutions to support effective, efficient enrollment practices 
• Maintain effective communication with Attendance and Enrollment colleagues and district-wide stakeholders regarding enrollment-related matters to ensure clarity and timely resolution of any issues
• Establish mechanisms for school staff, families, and external stakeholders to submit enrollment-related inquiries, elevate issues, and request problem-solving assistance; serve as an escalation point and support the resolution of complex issues requiring additional support
• Provide leadership, guidance, and professional development to direct reporting Enrollment staff; assign tasks, monitor workload, and ensure timely completion of enrollment-related activities
• Continually review and analyze district-wide student enrollment data to ensure accuracy, identify training needs, ensure adherence to district policies and regulations, and monitor school-based compliance on matters such as:
• Residency verification
• Document submission
• Enrollment deadlines 
• Determine and communicate clear expectations regarding a regular cadence of student enrollment audits to be completed by enrollment staff
• Collaborate with school leaders to identify and maintain accurate records of the school-based staff responsible for enrollment at each school
• Execute short-term initiatives aimed at enhancing student enrollment and implement long-term projects to establish a robust infrastructure for effective change management, for example:
• Drive enrollment-related updates to the CPS Website to promote enrollment and ensure clear communication and support for families
• Develop a library of comprehensive school- and family-facing enrollment resources
• Utilize data-informed insights and a continuous improvement framework to identify areas of opportunity and enhancement in the enrollment process.
• Collaborate with the Senior Training Specialist to communicate any identified knowledge gaps and support the creation of robust, thorough, district-wide enrollment training and resources, including community and family-facing resources regarding student enrollment rights
• Lead cross-functional projects and teams to improve and streamline existing enrollment processes, develop solutions, reduce school-based administrative loads, and ensure the accuracy of policy application
• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Enrollment Compliance Manager must possess the following qualifications: 

 Education Required: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Master's preferred

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience leading and/or directly supporting large-scale policy and/or program implementation and compliance at a complex organization, including the following, is required:
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a manager/supervisor role leading a team of direct reports
• Experience developing, implementing, and administering large-scale systems and policies  
• Experience leading or supporting change management in a large organization
• Experience working with complex data sets, using data to inform strategic changes
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience supporting student enrollment practices, strongly preferred
• Experience in a school-based setting managing complex processes and/or operations, preferred

Other Requirements:

• Access to transportation to travel between work sites is required
• Valid Driver's License and vehicle access preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure programs operate in the most effective manner possible to support schools and students
• Knowledge of, or ability to develop proficiency in and remain up-to-date on, federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to student enrollment
• Strong leadership and team building skills, including the ability to manage a team, providing performance management and professional development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• High levels of attention to detail and effective time management skills; capable of managing multiple projects/tasks simultaneously, driving them to completion and producing high-quality results
• Comfortable using data systems; Ability to define problems, analyze data, outline valid conclusions and action steps, and utilize data to inform decision-making
• Capable of success whether working independently or as a collaborative team member
• Solid understanding of the student population being served and challenges that may be faced, strongly preferred

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.