Job Summary: The Special Education Consultant serves as a non-supervisory instructional support professional responsible for coordinating and enhancing special education programs and services across the district. The position provides guidance, training, and ongoing support to special education teachers and staff to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, effective implementation of IEPs, and the delivery of high-quality instruction and inclusive practices for students with disabilities. The consultant collaborates with administrators, teachers, and related service providers to support program development, student scheduling, assessment planning, transition services, and data-driven decision-making. Additionally, the position assists with professional development, departmental coordination, and problem-solving to promote student achievement and ensure the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the selection, inventory, ordering, and distribution of instructional and curriculum materials for special education programs.
• Remain informed regarding curriculum development, instructional practices, and special education programming, and provide guidance to staff as appropriate.
• Collaborate with district departments, principals, and support personnel to support district-wide educational objectives and student success.
• Serve as a liaison among instructional personnel within the special education department.
• Facilitate and coordinate meetings for special education teachers and support staff.
• Work collaboratively with principals and building support staff to address student needs, scheduling, and program implementation.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and corrective feedback to special education teachers regarding procedural compliance and quality implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
• Support teachers in the development and implementation of progress monitoring systems to document student achievement of IEP goals.
• Analyze student achievement and program data to support instructional decision-making and program effectiveness.
• Provide building administrators with information related to special education program organization, staffing, scheduling, and student needs.
• Assist teachers with master scheduling, student scheduling, IEP timelines, and programming for newly enrolled students.
• Assist in planning and programming for the upcoming school year, including staffing and service delivery considerations.
• Support Early Intervention (EI) transition planning by attending meetings, conducting observations, coordinating services, and assisting with IEP development for incoming students.
• Coordinate Extended School Year (ESY) determination, programming, staffing, and organization.
• Assist with graduation planning, transition programming, and specialized transportation coordination for students with disabilities.
• Provide training, professional development, and on-site instructional support to teachers and support staff regarding instructional strategies, curriculum resources, inclusive practices, and differentiated instruction.
• Assist with orientation, induction, and ongoing support for new special education teachers and support staff.
• Communicate student, parent, teacher, or administrative concerns that may result in a denial of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to the Supervisor of Special Education and assist in resolving concerns appropriately.
• Attend IEP meetings, multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE) meetings, and other meetings as assigned, including complex or potentially legal situations at the request of administration.
• Coordinate IEP development and transition services for newly identified students, transfer students with existing IEPs, and out-of-district students attending district programs.
• Provide targeted instructional and programmatic assistance to special education teachers as requested by administration.
• Meet regularly with special education teachers by grade level and program area to provide support and facilitate communication.
• Represent the special education department on district committees and collaborative teams as requested by district administration.
• Provide principals with summaries of student accommodations related to state and local assessments, including PSSA accommodations.
• Assist with planning and implementation of state and local assessments for students receiving special education services.
• Manage and maintain department electronic systems, shared resources, and collaborative platforms, including Google Classroom and related digital tools.
• Collaborate with department administration to identify instructional materials, research-based practices, and professional development opportunities to meet student needs.
• Coordinate departmental meetings and communication among teachers and support staff in collaboration with department administration.
• Serve as the Local Education Agency (LEA) representative for IEP meetings in the absence of building administrators.
• Provide temporary case management support for designated classrooms during extended teacher absences.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Pennsylvania Department of Education certification in Special Education PK-12 required
• Submission of pre-employment medical examination
• Submission of the following clearances:
  • Pennsylvania State Criminal History Record
  • Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearances
  • Federal Background Check (Fingerprints)
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable