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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS
The EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST provides leadership, coordination,
technical assistance, and support to institutions, programs and individuals in the administration, planning, development,
implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and improvement of educational programs or areas of educational specialties.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
This is a single classification and not currently part of a series
of classes.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties listed below are not inclusive but characteristic
of the type and level of work associated with this class. Individual positions may perform all or some combination
of the duties listed below as well as other related duties.
- Technical Assistance. Provide
technical assistance in an area of educational specialty(ies) to administrators and teachers in local school districts
(K-12), parents, college administrators, business, labor and industry, and other governmental agency personnel.
This could involve, for example, curriculum standards for basic educational and vocational skills, application
procedures to request State or Federal funds, performance standards for program administration, standards of programs
for handicapped students, development and approval of vocational programs, licensing of private vocational schools,
compliance of community colleges with State and Federal regulations.
Stay informed of State and Federal statutes and regulations,
pending legislation, and court decisions affecting specialty area and distribute agency interpretations of legislation
and court decisions to interested parties. Interact with advisory committees, task forces and work groups concerned
with specialty area.
- Program Coordination. Develop
State plans to implement education programs which impact multiple disciplines or functional areas, such as, developing
statewide curriculum programs or disbursing Federal funds to educate youth and adults under various Federal acts.
Draft agency policies, procedures and Administrative Rules. Coordinate activities across discipline areas within
the agency to carry out the legal requirements of a program, commission or board.
Review and approve applications for grant-in-aid funds. Conduct
on-site audits and program evaluations of local education agencies and community colleges to ensure compliance
with program policies and governing statutes and advise on methods to gain compliance. Coordinate workshops and
in-service training for personnel of regional and local education programs.
Compile information and reports on program budget and testify
at legislative hearings in support of budget requests, policy or program needs, or to provide general information
on the specialty areas.
- Support Services. Collect
and analyze information, review educational journals and publications, and confer with other professionals in field.
Conduct surveys, make on-site visits to local educational jurisdictions, and serve as a key resource at public
hearings concerned with area of educational specialty.
Determine State and Federal regulations applicable to areas of
development or inquiry, issue findings of program compliance and provide advice on compliance issues or developing
and evaluating new programs, policies or procedures or improving existing ones.
Analyze staffing needs, proposals, contracts, and grant applications
and recommend action based on findings. Prepare reports, pamphlets, and curriculum program guides to assist educational
professionals and lay people understand agency and program policies, goals, and procedures. Provide in-service
training and coordinate conferences, workshops and seminars in specialty area.
- Miscellaneous. Administer
Department operations and grant funds with local school districts, other education and governmental agencies and
private contractors. Assure that contracts are written and executed according to agency, State and Federal policies
and procedures and that contractor program operations comply with contracts (e.g., monitoring of performance indicators).
Conduct research and development efforts and distribute findings.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
Employees in this class contact educational and social service
programs personnel, such as teachers, principals, presidents, deans, and agency heads daily to obtain information,
respond to requests, and promote Department initiatives and program developments. They also contact program supervisors
and managers to obtain information on State and Federal laws and agency policy on a daily basis. They have periodic
contact, in person, by phone, in writing and through meetings, with representatives of the U.S. Office of Education
and other Federal agencies to request interpretation of Federal regulations to maintain compliance. Employees also
periodically contact students and parents to explain policies or respond to requests for information, and with
other concerned individuals such as educational advisory committee members, personnel from business, industry,
and labor, and educational professionals from other states to gather and exchange information and explain policies,
procedures, and programs.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Employees in this class receive general supervision from a program
or unit supervisor or manager who reviews the work periodically for quality, timeliness, and compliance with State
and Federal laws, regulations, and policies and for staff effectiveness through meetings, written reports and feedback
from users of the employee's services. Planned programs and requests for support and assistance generate assignments.
Employees in this class use their own initiative to accomplish tasks within agency guidelines.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Some positions in this class may require the willingness to travel
statewide and to be available for work sessions or meetings on weekends and/or evenings.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Equivalent to a Master's degree AND five years of education experience (e.g., classroom
teaching, team teaching, counseling, school administration) in the speciality area under recruitment. Two years of the experience must have
included program coordination resposibilities such as:
- coordination of program employee activities;
- identifying long- and short-range operational goals and objectives;
- developing operating guidelines based on knowledge of program regulations and requirements;
- monitoring program operations;
- ensuring statutory program compliance;
- developing program budgetary data;
- interpreting governing rules, regulations, operating policies, and procedures;
- conducting staff meetings or training.
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