Job Location : Worcester,MA, USA
Worcester Public Schools (MA) is seeking a Data Quality Specialist to assist the administrative team in the special education department with timely and accurate collection of data and production of reports. Under the direction of the Manager of Special Education and Intervention Services, this position is responsible for overseeing compliance with federal and state regulations, laws, and policies that govern special education through the identification, collection, maintenance, and analysis of district and state data. The ideal candidate must demonstrate knowledge of managing databases and analyzing district and state data reports to assist the special education department to maintain compliance and meet regulatory timelines. Knowledge of relational databases, SQL, individual tables and Access fields in response to completing data request queries with special attention to data integrity would be an asset to this position. The ideal candidate will have excellent quantitative skills including data analysis; and, the ability to connect data analyses with problems of practice by developing systems and structures to improve timely and accurate reporting. Additionally, the applicant must have excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills and value working as a member of a team. Schools in the Worcester Public Schools serve as an integral part of the lives of students and their families, and the successful applicant will demonstrate a commitment to building and maintaining relationships with students, families, business partners, and community organizations. Worcester is a diverse urban school district which provides all students with the opportunity to become informed, productive, and responsible citizens. The district comprises 48 schools and programs serving approximately 26,000 students. There is a strong district culture which expects all staff to personally take responsibility to foster college and career readiness while emphasizing the four keys to 21st century learning: literacy, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. To maximize the effectiveness of your application please make sure that your School Spring application is updated and accurate. Specifically, please ensure that your School Spring resume is updated. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 1.) Monitor the department's compliance with special education regulations pertaining to timelines and/or reporting including but not limited to DESE indicators, referrals for services, IEP's, and Compliance Mandates - Advise the Manager on process improvements to ensure timely and accurate reporting/project completion and information sharing. 2.) Confer with and provide information to district personnel and state auditors for periodic record reviews and assist with the preparation of local and state audits (i..e., Circuit Breaker) 3.) Under the direction of the Manager, maintain fiscal reports of all tuition accounts and meet with Special Education Administration to review expenditures, and develop contracts of students placed in Out of District programs as well as maintain Tuition Accounts Access database 4.) Maintain Tuition Out of District tuition database accounts and monitor fiscal payments for accuracy given ongoing communication with accounting and Out of District schools. 5.) Assist Data Analyst and Special Education Administrators in all aspects of DESE reporting to include; Circuit Breaker, DESE Indicators, enrollment, child find, and Medicaid data collection. Reporting includes weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, and meeting annual reporting deadlines. 6.) Under the direction of the Manager, collaborate with the office of Information Technology, and other departments to analyze district special education data to maintain accountability as well as identify common data issues that compromise the district's reporting. 7.) Provide guidance, technical assistance, training, and support to department staff as needed to improve data integrity given timeliness based on assigned projects or tasks. 8.) Maintain specific databases with accuracy in the special education department. (i.e., DESE 28M, Extended School Year, Tuition Accounts, and align data collection from the District Student Management System and Student IEP Software Program) 9.) Assist with updating in the District Student Management System all demographic and biographical data based on student's enrollment status and prepare internal reports as needed 10.) Liaison with Parent Information Center, Central Mass Collaborative, and all WPS schools to assure the accuracy of all registration is completed for students with disabilities during the registration process 11.) Maintain student rosters within the district student management system and IEP databases to ensure accuracy of enrollment/placement as well as complete registration and placement process for in-district and out of district students 12.) Attend various meetings and/or trainings and collaborate with stakeholders (i.e., District, Local agencies, DESE and Out of District ) 13.) Coordinate meetings with Out of District Evaluation Team Chair and SPED Department Head to review out of district placements and monitor all new tuition costs 14.) Collaborate with the Transportation Department to ensure students with disabilities transportation services and request are updated and completed in a timely manner 15.) Proficiency skills in excel, database construct given excellent organizational skills and the ability to problem solve to meet timelines 16.) Responsible for providing equal educational and employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, marital status, religion, national origin or disability 17.) Performance of other duties as assigned REQUIREMENTS: The ideal candidate essential skills must include knowledge of the integration of systems to develop and maintain database management reports/queries to ensure accountability of financial expenditures as well as demonstrate a working knowledge of state and federal special education laws and regulations. 1.) Bachelor's Degree - Computers/Data Analytics/Mathematics/ Special Education and/or related field 2.) Recent successful experience managing compliance reporting in a highly regulated environment 3.) Organizational skills with the ability to multi tasks projects and assignments to meet deadlines 4.) Excellent communication and writing skills given the aptitude to navigate various data reports to meet the needs of the department 5.) Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to successfully support colleagues of varying skill levels 6.) Ability to manage multiple processes in order to complete projects and reports with accuracy PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 1.) Knowledge of DESE reporting requirements and working knowledge of State Special Education Regulations 2.) College Degree or coursework in Informational Technology systems 3.) Experience working in a public school district Reports to: Manager of Special Education and Intervention Services Salary: $86,861 annually ($46.71/hourly) This is a year-round non-represented position. The compensation package includes paid vacation, PTO, and sick days as well as access to health and dental insurance.