Position Title: Part Time Special Education Case Manager (2023-24SY)
Location:1309 W 95th St, Chicago, IL 60643
Reports To: Managing Director of Student Services
Type: Regular Part Time
Start Date: April 2024

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

Position Description:

We are looking for a mission aligned licensed Special Education professional who will support our team of Special Educators, to monitor special education documents to ensure compliance with federal, state and local mandates. This person will:

• Serving as the local school district representative at all required IEP meetings under the IDEA and serving as the 504 Coordinator for all meetings under Section 504

• Fulfilling all the Roles & Responsibilities delineated in the ODLSS Procedural Manual for the local school district representative

• Ensuring all IDEA and Section 504 timelines are met

• Ensuring that all parental notices and consents for Full and Individual Evaluations and placements are processed and provided in the native language where feasible and placed in the student temporary files

• Sending parents/guardians copy of draft IEP materials and if applicable paraprofessional, ESY, and Learning Environment Intervention forms, along with copies of all other conducted evaluations and any other collected data at least five school days prior to the meeting

• Ensuring an interpreter is invited to all IEP and 504 conferences (including initial and reevaluation eligibility determination meetings, and annual reviews) for parents who are limited English proficient

• Coordinating all referrals for a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) to ensure that all required components are addressed and that the process is completed within 60 school days after receiving signed parental consent, including but not limited to, referrals for Assistive Technology/Alternative-Augmentative Communication evaluations or functional behavioral assessments (FBAs)

• Convening and chairing IEP and 504 conferences (including initial and reevaluation eligibility determination meetings, and annual reviews) and acting as the District Representative

• Ensuring that IEP teams are utilizing qualitative and quantitative data when making service decisions in the development of an IEP

• Finalizing each student's IEP or 504 Plan in the SSM at the meeting and providing the student's parents/guardians with a copy

• Ensuring that all relevant student data is entered into SSM in a timely manner

• Arranging special education and related services for a student within the school in accordance with the students IEP and contacting ODLSS to arrange assignment in another school if necessary to implement the IEP

• Consulting with the ODLSS District Representative regarding students who require low-incidence services or regarding problems that develop in the implementation of procedures

• In collaboration with the principal & Director of Special Education, overseeing and ensuring the implementation of all IEPs and 504 Plans for each student with disabilities in the school

• Training and supporting school staff regarding the implementation of the IDEA and Section 504 requirements

• Attending all ODLSS professional development and meetings targeted at supporting the case manager/local school district representative

• Assisting the school's scheduler/programmer with programming all students with disabilities in accordance with their IEPs

• In collaboration with the Director of Special Education, scheduling paraprofessionals in accordance with students' IEPs and 504 Plans

Requirements:

• PEL with one of the following endorsements -

  • Principal (PK-Age 21) - formerly Type 75 with Supervisory endorsement
  • Type 03 (elementary) or Type 09 (secondary) certificate with an endorsement or approval in special education (LBS1); or
  • Special Education (PK-Age 21) - formerly Type 10 (special); or

• At least 2 years of case management experience

Why Join the Distinctive Schools Team:

• We are a collaborative team of professionals supporting each other to instill a love of learning in our students

• We empower students, families and staff to contribute to our mission in a meaningful way

• We make an impact in our communities by serving some of the most historically marginalized in the city

• We offer a great benefits package for full time employees (Medical; Dental; Vision; PTO; 403b match, discounted gym membership, tuition reimbursement options, referral bonus)

Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.