Special Education Case Manager

Organization Overview

Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC) Schools is comprised of a non-profit network of public charter schools designed to significantly increase high school graduation rates, college entrance, and college graduation rates for underserved students in North-East Los Angeles, and the North-East San Fernando Valley.

Our mission at PUC Schools is to develop and manage high-quality charter schools in densely populated urban communities with overcrowded and low-achieving schools. We create school programs and cultures that promote college graduation for all students. We uplift and revitalize communities through the success of our students and through inspiring them to uplift our communities now and forever and through the development of educational and other supportive partnerships.

The Team Member we are searching for

The ideal Special Education Case Manager believes in and is passionate about the mission and commitments of PUC Schools and exhibits this through their leadership, reflection, execution of school culture, and collaboration to ensure student success. This team member will support the Inclusion Department by managing the IEP processes for the school to drive forward and ensure special education compliance with established policies, procedures, and regulations. The ideal Special Education Case Manager is passionate about the rights of students with disabilities, special education law, and legally compliant practices, dedicated to meeting the needs of all students with disabilities and possesses expertise in special education – specifically in IEP case management and compliance.

What you will need to accomplish:

• Case manage the majority of IEPs at the school site and be responsible for all IEP development, including IEP meeting coordination, facilitation, and maintaining all documentation as required by federal, state, and district regulations
• Effectively facilitate IEP team meetings, including those that may be contentious, using a student-centered approach to determine next steps and/or resolve disagreements
• Utilize Welligent to manage IEPs and ensure full compliance
• Ensure IEP timeline compliance of assigned caseload by using regional mandates, processes, and documentation
• Complete weekly review of compliance reports and promptly address any compliance issues
• Develop related goals and objectives and provide support and PD to school staff partners to meet the needs of students with special needs
• Coordinate progress report completion in accordance with district guidelines
• Serve parents/guardians, school site team members, contract stakeholders, and students as a resource for information regarding special education services, programs, and policies and ensure that procedures are appropriate in relation to policies required by region, district, state, and federal regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with the school site leader(s) to keep them abreast of cases, urgent matters, and other relevant information
• Administer formal academic, transition, and functional behavior assessments and write the accompanying academic, transition, and behavior reports
• Analyze assessment results to drive IEP development
• Monitor related service provisions using compliance reports and communicate with stakeholders as needed to ensure fidelity of service provisions
• Manage relationships with outside vendors to ensure students receive all individually prescribed IEP services (i.e., Language and Speech, Occupational Therapy, APE, etc.)
• Serve as a resource and consult with teachers and related service providers
• Address other duties and processes required to maintain the school’s program of services and compliance needs
• Maintain relationships with parents as collaborative partners in support of IEP development
• Address all parent communication related to the IEP process, including scheduling, notification, and coordination of IEP service delivery
• Develop positive relationships with parents and families to engage and empower them in the IEP process and keep them updated on student progress
• Attend regular meetings, trainings, and coaching provided by PUC Schools’ Department of Special Education for continued professional development and community building
• Maintain knowledge of current special education regulations and best practices
• Develop and provide professional development for general and special education staff
• Build professional knowledge
• Demonstrate support and knowledge of the school's goals and mission
• Perform other duties as assigned by the school site and PUC Inclusion and Special Education leadership

What do we require from you?

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required
• Master’s degree with an emphasis in special education is highly preferred
• Possession of a valid California Preliminary or Clear Education Specialist Instruction Credential (Mild/Moderate with Autism Authorization or Moderate/Severe)
• Possession of BCLAD or CLAD certification

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a case-managing special education teacher in the state of California and/or previous experience as a school-based or NPA case manager
• Experience facilitating contentious or complicated IEP team meetings which lead to IEP team consensus

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of diversity in society, including diverse abilities, culture, language, ethnicity, and
• gender orientation
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Proficient with Welligent
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Excellent organizational, planning, and implementation skills
• Able to analyze qualitative and quantitative student data
• Alignment with core characteristics required of every PUC employee: pursuit of excellence, innovation, community, tenacity, and authenticity
• Must be flexible and team-oriented
• Able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred
• Knowledge of LAUSD special education policy preferred
• Strong work ethic, accountability, and ownership of work
• Regular attendance, dependability, and punctuality in conformance with the standards are essential to the successful performance of this position

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Occasionally required to kneel, climb, and reach with hands and arms above shoulder level, lift up to 30 pounds. To bend, sit, stand, squat, stoop, walk, push, pull, and reach with hands and arms at shoulder level or below. Always required to wear the appropriate safety equipment for the task, which may include gloves, goggles, aprons, belts, etc.

Compensation & Benefits:

• This is a full-time exempt, salaried position
• Our benefits include:
  • Comprehensive group health benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision and additional voluntary benefits
  • STRS and other Retirement Plan Options
  • Paid Time Off
  • Ongoing Professional Development

DISCLAIMER: This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other essential functions (as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act) expected of an incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of an incumbent. An incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Nothing in this position description changes the at-will employment relationship existing between the Institution and its employees.

PUC Schools is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.