JJOB TITLE: DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

JOB CODE: 24360

DEFINITION: This is highly responsible professional educational and administrative work in planning and directing the statewide program of special education and related services.

The employee in this job is responsible for planning, developing, directing, and coordinating a statewide program of special education services for children with disabilities in intermediate units, school districts, private schools, and private agencies. Work involves responsibility for developing program policies, goals, and objectives, and preparing legislative policy proposals and regulations to recommend approval to state review boards. Work also involves ensuring special education programs meet the requirements of federal and state regulations and departmental policies and includes planning, directing, and coordinating special education programs, requirements, and techniques in accordance with departmental philosophy and goals. An important aspect of the work involves providing statewide leadership on special education programs and collaborating with professional personnel within the department and in local school systems to develop goals and objectives for special education. Supervision is exercised over a large professional staff engaged in the promotion and improvement of the statewide special education program. Work is performed independently and reviewed by the Deputy Secretary for Elementary/Secondary Education for program effectiveness and goal attainment.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Plans, develops, and directs a statewide program for special education and related services.

• Develops, recommends, and implements special education program policies, goals, and objectives.

• Prepares and evaluates special education legislative policy proposals and regulations.

• Plans, approves, and provides leadership in the development of new and the extension of existing programs for the education of the exceptional child.

• Develops state plan for the federal government for the education of exceptional children within the state.

• Receives, reviews, approves, and audits plans for federally funded special education projects.

• Directs the organization of in-service education activities and consultative services in special education.

• Provides assistance and makes recommendations to the State Board of Education for the development and review of special education regulations and standards.

• Prepares and submits administrative and special program budgets.

• Monitors and evaluates the expenditure of federal and state funds for reimbursement in accordance with applicable laws.

• Provides direction and technical assistance to intermediate units, school districts, private schools, and private agencies on development of budgets for the receipt of state and federal education funds.

• Serves as a liaison to other bureaus, state agencies, and professional associations.

• Serves as consultant and advises the Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education on all matters relating to special education.

• Serves as the Department of Education spokesperson and Secretary's designee to various government agencies.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational and organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the theories and principles involved in the education of exceptional children.

• Knowledge of the adjustment of educational, physical, and psychological problems of children with disabilities.

• Knowledge of modern teaching principles and methods for children with disabilities.

• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing the programs for the education of children with disabilities.

• Knowledge of special education curriculum planning.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices and current developments in the field of education.

• Knowledge of the principles of education administration.

• Knowledge of the practices and principles of supervision.

• Ability to analyze educational programs to determine conformance with standards and regulations.

• Ability to read and interpret written information.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These may not be used for merit system evaluation or examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.)

• Ability to apply the practices and principles of local and state planning to the statewide program of special education.

• Ability to develop and manage a statewide program of consultative services in special education and related fields of services.

• Ability to develop, comprehend, analyze, and interpret legislation, regulations, and legal procedures.

• Ability to analyze, comprehend, and develop educational policy.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• One year as an Assistant Director, Bureau of Special Education (commonwealth title);

or

• Eight years of professional experience in the field of special education, which includes five years in an administrative or supervisory capacity;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training, which includes five years of administrative or supervisory experience in special education.