Executive Director, Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Application
Details
Posted: 22-Oct-24
Location: Downey, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: $15,523 - $18,159
Categories:
Executive Director
Salary Details:
2023-24 CERTIFICATED MANAGEMENT SALARY SCHEDULE
Range 555: (a) $15,523 (b) $16,144 (c) $16,789 (d) $17,461 (e) $18,159 (an additional stipend of 1.50% of base salary per month for an earned Doctoral Degree)
Preferred Education:
Doctorate
THE PROGRAM:
In 1977, AB 1250 was enacted into law, requiring that local districts and agencies establish Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) to address the needs of all children with disabilities. School districts, charter schools, and county offices of education join to develop a local plan providing special education services within each identified region. Each SELPA has an Administrative Unit (the Responsible Local Agency), a legal entity that acts according to a specified participants’ agreement within the local plan and may assume responsibility for oversight of SELPA staff, allocation of funds and fiscal reporting and monitoring, and monitoring of special education programs and services to ensure compliance.
The SELPA governance structure is designated in the approved local plan. It serves as the SELPA's governing board, and all its actions are the official position of the SELPA and SELPA member constituents.
THE POSITION:
The SELPA Executive Director implements local plans for the LAC Court School SELPA and the LAC Charter SELPA, ensuring special education services are delivered and monitored. They oversee special education programs in all schools within the LAC Court Schools SELPA, organize standing committees, manage budgets and expenditures, plan and coordinate programs for students with special needs, and develop staff training. Additionally, they help create operational policies, negotiate interagency agreements, interpret legal mandates, and manage facilities and transportation for children with special needs.
This position requires specialized subject matter expertise in special education and directly related and progressive administrative and supervisory experience. Knowledge is applied to administering and managing SELPA programs and services within established policy guidelines, research and evaluation concepts, and solutions. The SELPA Executive Director makes decisions and presents recommendations concerning and impacting critical educational and administrative operations. Under administrative direction, the SELPA Director makes decisions of critical consequence, directly impacting the operations of programs and projects and/or the development and implementation of policies and operational procedures.
The SELPA Executive Director oversees the planning, assignment, review, and evaluation of the work performed by staff members, including classified and certificated employees. Regular interactions are held with officials from Los Angeles County LEA, the State Department of Education, federal compliance personnel, advisory and community action groups, interagency administrators, other policymakers, and internal staff to plan and direct activities, negotiate service agreements, and find alternative solutions to program and project challenges within the SELPA, encompassing fiscal and programmatic matters. The administrative direction for the SELPA Executive Director comes from the Associate Superintendent of Special Programs Support and Transformation at the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Plan and administer the human and monetary resources of the SELPA programs and services to ensure that special education aims, goals, and objectives are accomplished within prescribed priorities, time limitations, and funding.
Coordinate and communicate effectively with superintendents, executive directors, business officials, special education directors, and Board liaisons regarding the planning, organizing, and administering programs and services. Plan, coordinate, and collaborate with local, county, state, and federal agencies to develop and implement programs, operational service policies, and guidelines.
Plan, develop, and administer SELPA operational budgets, including expenditure control processes.
Negotiate, monitor, and review interagency service, operational agreements, and program funding with Los Angeles County LEA officials and state and federal agencies.
Plan, prepare, and present information on special education plans, agreements, and state and federal compliance issues to school boards.
Plan, organize, and chair the SELPA governance councils to discuss and evaluate program policies, procedures, and service delivery models.
Act as a liaison to the Community Advisory Committee and to parents in the SELPA.
Plan, organize, and maintain management information systems, which includes the SELPA special education population, for use in planning budgets and providing student information required by state, federal, and local agencies.
Propose and recommend language concerning legislation to address the needs of special education and SELPA problems and issues.
Plan, organize, and direct research and development activities in the design and implementation of new special education programs and services.
Provide leadership and take an active role in interpreting and implementing state and federal legal mandates and regulations, including, but not limited to, CDE and Williams complaints, OAH fillings, and reporting.
Direct the preparation and maintenance of a variety of narrative and statistical reports, records, and files; supervise data collection system; assure the accuracy of federal, state, and grant reporting.
Oversees curriculum and the coordination of program development in special education.
Develop, evaluate and make recommendations to the Superintendent regarding policies and procedures governing the operation within the SELPA.
Review all JCS/CCS master schedules to ensure special education and FAPE compliance.
Meet with LACOE principals or designees monthly to review special education caseloads and compliance.
Understand best practices related to classroom, school and District level interventions, which can effectively target and close the achievement gap.
Develop and provide training for community, administrators, principals and site staff.
Manage, supervise, and evaluate the performance of technical, administrative, and clerical personnel to ensure compliance with division policies and operational objectives.
Assumes a lead role in the planning, implementing, and evaluating of all special education programs and services within the SELPA.
Maintains current knowledge of laws, regulations, and procedures related to programs and services for disabled students.
Maintains professional competency by actively engaging in employer-directed in-service activities and similar opportunities provided to staff.
Cooperatively engages in the professional evaluation process with the supervisor to ensure ongoing professional growth and competence.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of:
Principles, techniques, strategies, goals, and objectives of public education and special education programs and services.
Principles, practices, methods, and trends of the organization and management of SELPA programs and projects.
Federal, state, and county laws, codes, and regulations concerning special education and SELPA operations.
Evaluation strategies and techniques for determining the operational effectiveness of SELPA programs and services.
Principles and techniques of budget preparation and fiscal administration.
Human relations and conflict-resolution strategies; team-building techniques.
Ability to:
Analyze, assess, and interpret statistical and programmatic data; apply gained insight into program and service administration and supervision.
Analyze complex problems, develop solutions, and make effective decisions.
Communicate effectively in oral and written form.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Collaborate effectively with others to solve problems, analyzing data, creating plans, and finding solutions.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
EXPERIENCE:
A minimum of five years of teaching experience, preferably in Special Education. A minimum of three years of experience as a principal or assistant principal in a comprehensive public-school setting. A minimum of three years of experience as a special education administrator at a district or county office level is required. Administrative or supervisory experience in state, federal, or related programs is preferred.
EDUCATION:
A master’s degree in education or a related field from an accredited college/university is required. A doctorate from an accredited institution in a related field is preferred.
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE:
Must possess all the following: A valid California Teaching Credential (Special Education Teaching Credential Preferred). A valid Administrative Services Credential. A valid California Driver’s License
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE:
Must possess all the following:
A valid California Teaching Credential (Special Education Teaching Credential Preferred).
Welcome to the Los Angeles County Office of Education!
Thank you for your interest in joining the LACOE family. We are proud of the fact that we have talented staff, excellent growth opportunities, outstanding support and an invigorating mission. The primary function of LACOE is to service and support 79 K-12 school districts along with numerous other agencies, as we ensure educational excellence for the region’s two-million preschool and school-aged children.
LACOE serves others by building capacity in our employees, being responsive to the needs of our customers and modeling integrity and respect in our actions and communications. We enhance our role through partnering with our communities, County and other educational institutions to provide outreach, support and specialized services.
It is our mission to improve the lives of students and our educational community through our service, leadership and advocacy. We are seeking talented individuals who support our vision and strategic plan that encompasses “A Culture of Excellence in ALL We Do.”