Equity Policy Strategy Specialist

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.
The Office of Equity mission is to develop, support, implement, and report on district efforts to eliminate the opportunity gaps in education quality, policies, and support for students and adults. The Office of Equity is a cabinet-level office established in 2018. The CPS Office of Equity works hand-in-hand with district offices to ensure each undertaking is pursued with equity as a goal. To drive progress on equity, the Office of Equity oversees the continually evolving CPS Equity Framework, a source of guidance tools, evidence-based ideas, and resources for CPS staff, partners, and community members addressing complex equity issues.
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Racial Equity and Initiatives, the Equity Policy Strategy Specialist (EPSS) will be responsible for conducting policy analysis reviews of existing school board policy, the Illinois School Code, city and state policies/practices, and district and school-based practices, and assess their impacts on schools and student outcomes. This position will advocate, support, co-design, and implement policies and practices that give considerable attention to students furthest from opportunity while adhering to federal, local, and state regulations. The Equity Policy Strategy Specialist will operationalize the CPS Equity Framework in the overall management of policy implementation, revision, and supplemental support.
The Equity Policy Strategy Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Co-design equity-based structures, data systems, evaluation rubrics, and professional learning opportunities to support schools, offices, and departments on policy
• Build the capacity of a cohort composed of district and school leaders to operationalize the CPS Equity Framework and apply the Equity Policy Review Process to policy
• Collaborate with stakeholders to examine the impact of board policies on school and student outcomes to recommend and implement new policies and review existing policies
• Assess school board policies in conjunction with federal, state, and local laws, and course decisions
• Develop policy implementation strategies that support various types of schools (i.e., selective enrollment, small neighborhood charter, CTE, and community schools)
• Collaborate with stakeholders to determine the effectiveness and unintended effects of pre-existing and forthcoming policies.
• Ensure policy implementation adheres to constitutional, statutory, and regulatory requirements
• Conduct district and school and district-level equity audits and assessments focusing on numbers and narratives
• Engage in capacity building with internal staff regarding the impact of board policy and practices through an equity lens.
• Collect and analyze data to facilitate District-wide policy discussions
• Attend central office meetings and facilitate policy and codesign presentations for senior leadership and other internal and external stakeholders
• Models the intersection of co-design, equitable education policymaking, and healing and trust building in identified district priorities through listening-focused continuous improvement initiatives
• Facilitate to audiences larger than 500+ participants on the CPS Equity Framework with various stakeholders from within CPS as well as across the city, state, and nation
• Perform additional ad hoc duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Equity Policy Strategy Specialist must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:

• Master's degree in Education, Public Policy, Public Administration, Public Affairs, Political Science, Community Organizing, or a related field

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of directly related professional experience, including the following, is required:
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in policy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion work in a large organization
• Minimum of three (3) years in a role requiring strategic planning and/or organizational development
• Experience working with data and software
• Urban school district experience preferred
• Data analysis experience preferred

Other Requirements:

• Access to reliable transportation and the ability to travel within the City of Chicago to schools and professional development sessions
• Flexibility of schedule as required to support professional learning sessions and/or Office of Equity events, which may occur outside of normal business hours

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent policy analysis and research skills
• Strong understanding of policy development and review best practices
• Ability to quickly learn and successfully apply the CPS policy processes
• Strong written and verbal communication and advocacy skills, including the ability to articulate complex issues and communicate them effectively to a variety of audiences
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects, working effectively and producing high-quality results with minimal supervision while adhering to strict deadlines in a fast-paced, complex environment
• Ability to operate under pressure, remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient, while maintaining a high level of professionalism at all times.
• Superior organizational, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills
• Ability to write details technical briefs, summaries, data-driven reports, and counter-narratives; capable of articulating and and implementing a clear policy development or revision process
• Ability to communicate and present information effectively to colleagues at all levels of the organization and external stakeholders
• Ability to work independently as well as to function effectively in a collaborative team environment
• Effective strategic planning capabilities, including the ability to establish long-term vision and goals, and align/manage activities toward goal fulfillment
• Knowledge of operations, budget/finance, management and organizational development
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps
• Excellent computer skills, including strong internet research skills; proficient with MS Office applications
• Demonstrated success in leading and managing complex projects that are strategic in nature and scope

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.