Transition Specialist, High Schools (Network 15)

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 330,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 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.
District-run CPS schools are organized into 18 networks. The Office of Network Support provides administrative support, strategic direction, and leadership development to the schools within each network while also driving critical supports that boost student learning.
Over the last several years, CPS students' growth rate in academics has been among the highest in the country, and the graduation rates have increased steadily over the past decade yet these gains are not equitably distributed across all students. To address this need, CPS is hiring additional staff to support students and families when they become disengaged in their current school and consider transferring between High Schools.
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Chief of Schools within the Office of Network Support, the Transition Specialist will support schools, families, students and the Network offices to ensure students who are transferring, or considering doing so, are able to efficiently and effectively move through the transfer process. This role will also identify whether a transfer is in the best interest of a student and if so, identify the best-fit school for the student and ensure a cohesive and smooth transition from the sending school to the receiving school.
The Transition Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
Serve as a student advocate throughout the entire transfer process, ensuring the student is enrolled in a high school and receiving support that best meets their individual goals and circumstances.

• Maintain open, responsive, and authentic communication with all traditional and Options School staff and operators.
• Coordinate entire Options School transfer process including:
• Review Options School Transfer requests within 24 hours of receipt and make a determination, based on the High School transition guidelines, as to whether the transfer request should be recommended for approval.
• Consult with key staff to ensure transferring students are successfully enrolled and supported at a best-fit Options School (i.e. location, academic program/learning model, supports offered, etc.).
• Follow up with comments and next steps for all approved requests to ensure a smooth transition for the student.
• Maintain communication with the sending school and obtain completed Options Transfer Checklists for each transfer.
• Track enrollment status to ensure transferring students have a timely/immediate enrollment into an Options School.
• Support schools in completing a Support & Intervention Plan for any student whose transfer request is not approved.

• As needed, support students who are transferring from one high school to another (i.e. charter to neighborhood school, selective enrollment to charter, etc.). These supports may include:
• Determine whether the transfer is needed or if the student could/would prefer to stay in their current school.
• If the student stays in their current school, coordinate with the school to provide the student with needed support and resources.
• If transfer is desired by the student/family, ensure that the student is successfully enrolled in their new school and upon transfer, receives needed resources and support.

• Assist in the 14/15-year-old Alternative Learning Opportunity Program (ALOP) admission process including reviewing transfer requests, creating individualized plans for students whose transfers are approved and conducting follow-up meetings with the student(s) and school(s).
• Partner with other key staff including the Juvenile Justice team, SOAR Team, and SEL Specialists to ensure students who are transferring (or were referred to transfer) are receiving the necessary individualized support.
• In partnership with the data strategist and Network team, review data to identify trends and flags, and create corresponding action steps to continue to develop best practices regarding supporting students who are, or are likely to, transfer High Schools.
• Assist in developing and implementing continuous training for staff and administrators at traditional and Options schools on the Options transfer policy, process and overall transfer best practices.
• Troubleshoot administrative challenges with transfers (i.e. student not being released from sending school, etc.)
• Support additional district initiatives related to enrolling and engaging high school students.

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

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of previous experience working with high school-aged students

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A deep commitment to educational equity, including a willingness to regularly self-reflect and learn on matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic and trusting relationships with families, students and adult stakeholders including teachers and administrators.
• Possess a track record of managing multiple projects/tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent organization skills and a high degree of attention to detail.
• Possess an unwavering commitment to producing high-quality work products.
• Excellent computer skills with a strong working knowledge of, or willingness to quickly learn, G-suite (Google Sheets, G-mail, Google slides, Google Docs, Google Calendars); willingness to learn Smartsheets.

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.