Special Education Advisor

Are you looking for a chance to support students and families while working with dedicated professionals in the field of Special Education? The Special Education Advisor position with the Bureau of Special Education, Division of Monitoring and Improvement, serves counties in the Central Division region, including Intermediate Unit 14 in Berks County and Intermediate Unit 29 in Schuylkill County. This role supports these areas by providing students with a strong and effective education system. If you have an understanding of federal and state special education rules, care about helping schools serve students with disabilities, and possess strong thinking and writing skills, this job could be a great fit for you.

This position focuses on providing guidance, monitoring, and support to Intermediate Units and local education agencies to strengthen special education programs across Pennsylvania. As a Special Education Advisor, you will perform the following duties:

• Monitoring Leadership: Lead compliance monitoring visits and guide corrective action activities
• Plan Review: Review and recommend approval of special education plans and conduct facility evaluations
• Complaint Resolution: Investigate Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) complaints and prepare required reports
• Technical Guidance: Provide assistance in interpreting laws, regulations, and statewide procedures
• Data Collection: Collect and review required data from agencies during monitoring and reporting activities
• Collaboration Support: Coordinate with statewide partners to address concerns and support improvement efforts

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 60-minute lunch.
• Home Headquartered: This position is home headquartered. In order to be home headquartered, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Five years of professional experience in special education including two years as an administrator of a special education program; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training, which includes two years as an administrator of a special education program.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.