Special Education Case Coordinator, OGC - 26003

Description:

Position Summary: The Special Education Case Coordinator Team Lead serves as the subject matter expert and liaison between the Office of General Counsel - Special Education Case Management (SECM), including the Impartial Hearing Office (IHO), Impartial Hearing Order Implementation Unit (IHOIU), the Enhanced Rate Equitable Services Unit (ERES), Special Education Unit (SEU), Leadership Training & Knowledge Management (LTKM) Team, other offices within the Office of the General Counsel, the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning (DIAL), the Division of School Leadership (DSL), and external partners such as the New York City Law Department and court appointed special mater in L.V. v NYCDOE class action lawsuit.

The Coordinator will work directly with the SECM Special Counsel to drive compliance with the L.V. v. NYCDOE class action, working to prepare compliance documents, reports, and ensure timely submission of LV required deliverables. The Team Lead will also work with SECM leadership, attorneys, advocates, Pro Se Parents, the New York State Education Department (NYSED), NYSED Certified Impartial Hearing Officers, the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), New York State Office of Court Administration Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs), on matters related to special education due process, implementation of due process orders, and claims related to requests for enhanced rate equitable services.

This position will work with the SECM leadership team to support general due process compliance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), New York State Education Law, and New York State Education Department Commissioners Regulations. The selected candidate must have knowledge of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) organizational structure as it relates to Special Education and the provision of due process, e.g., knowledge of the Committees on Special Education (CSEs), field offices, and OGC. Performs related work.

Reports to: Special Counsel, OGC

Direct Reports: N/A

Key Relationships: Work closely with staff from the OGC’s SECM Offices – IHO, IHOIU, ERES Unit, OGC -SEU, as well as DIAL’s CSEs, ASEs and DSEs, D75, D79 and Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT).

Responsibilities

• Corresponds with parents and their representatives, resolution case managers, and NYCPS litigation staff; addresses inquiries about impartial hearing cases.
• Conducts outreach to stakeholders both internal and external to NYCPS, gathers additional information as required.
• Coordinates deliverable submission for the L.V. v NYCDOE class action.
• Participates in meetings with the LV court appointed special master.
• Assists in the creation of training documents for LV implementation, as well as for impartial hearing, and enhanced rate equitable services processes.
• Coordinates within SECM’s legal team to oversee the file management of all impartial hearing cases, enhanced rate equitable services claims, and implementation databases.
• Provides support to IHO, ERES, and IU coordinators, including decision processing and hearing administration staff, docketing teams, and compliance teams.
• Assists in the creation of trainings across all SECM teams and provides ongoing support to staff for various workflows related to Special Education Due Process Case Management.
• Supports the management of shared email accounts across the SECM vertical.
• Corresponds with NYSED Certified Impartial Hearing Officers and escalates case issues to management and NYSED when appropriate.
• Maintains appropriate records for impartial hearings, enhanced rate equitable services, and implementation of due process orders.
• Processes due process complaints and amended complaints.
• Uploads notices of appearance, confidentiality releases, extension orders, subpoenas and other case documents to IHS; processes case withdrawal requests, schedules hearings and translation/interpretation services.
• Monitors the statutorily mandated timelines of Impartial Hearings.
• Supports responses to FOIL and other document requests.
• Provides timely updates about impartial hearing operations to IHO management; create report templates and assists with data reconciliation.

Qualification Requirements:

Minimum

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two (2) years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six (6) years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to “1” or “2” above. However, all candidates must have at least one (1) year of experience as described in “1” above.

Plus

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, individuals must have two additional years of the experience described in "1" above.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working in legal office administration.
• Experience in Special Education.
• Knowledge of NYCPS systems, e.g., Impartial Hearing System (IHS), Automate the Schools (ATS), DAITS, and the Special Education Student Information System (SESIS).
• Excellent data entry skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Ability to understand provisions of applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to conduct research.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize time-sensitive tasks.

Salary: $72,114 - $79,325

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.

* NewYorkCityResidency is NOT Required *

We encourage all applicants from the NewYorkCity tri-state area to apply.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DOE Non- Discrimination Policy
The Department of Education of the City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or pregnancy. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.