Job Title:  ARD Manager     

Wage/Hour Status:    Exempt

Dept. /School: Special Education/Assigned Campuses     

Pay Grade:

Reports to: Director of Special Services                   

Date Revised: 4/22/ 2024

Primary Purpose:

Ensure the effective and compliant implementation of Individualized Education Programs on campuses. Provide guidance to teachers and campus leaders on the Legal Framework and District Procedures in Special Education. Coordinate the ARD and Evaluation processes at assigned campuses, including scheduling IEP meetings within federal, state, and local timeframes and ensuring that each student in special education has an evaluation (FIIE or Reevaluation) that accurately encompasses all suspected areas of disability and related service needs. Provide work cooperatively with instructional personnel to make recommendations on the provision of appropriate programs for students with disabilities. 

May be servicing more than one campus within the Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and San Antonio campuses.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

• Valid Special Education Certification
• Minimum of 3 years experience delivering Special Education Services
• Master’s degree in Special Education (preferred)
• Valid Texas Educational Diagnostician certification (preferred)

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years experience delivering Special Education Services

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• In-depth understanding of special education best practices, the Legal Framework, guiding principles, and state, federal, and local requirements
• Deep understanding of the Special Education, ARD, and FIE / FIIE process
• Knowledge of prevention and intervention strategies, including behavior management interventions
• Strong collaboration skills for working with campus teams to create and implement effective Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities
• Ability to make academically appropriate recommendations to ARD committees based on PLAAFPs
• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and time management
• skills 
• Competent in working with the Google Suite of applications,
• Strong technical skills, especially in:
• Working in a special education student management system, and
• Working with Student Information Systems 

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Assessment

• Receive student referrals and work with evaluation team to ensure a comprehensive evaluation is conducted within timelines
• Plan, organize, and communicate all evaluation deadlines well in advance
• Collect and organize relevant assessment data from the student's cumulative folder, classroom teachers(s), principal, support staff, parents, and outside agencies.
• Conduct classroom observation and student interviews.
• Participate in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee to assist with appropriate placement, and development of Individual Education Plans (IEP) for students according to district procedures
• Gather and compile all informal data for FIIEs, and Reevaluations
• Gather, compile, and summarize all information from previous evaluations and from informal sources for REEDs
• Follow local, state, and federal requirements for training regarding evaluations for students with Dyslexia

Consultation

• Provide staff development training in assigned schools to assist school personnel in identification and understanding of students with disabilities.
• Consult with classroom teachers on how to implement the IEP.
• Consult with parents concerning the educational needs of students.
• Consult with teachers, administrators, and other relevant individuals to enhance their work with students
• Provide guidance and mentorship to special educators on best practices in the delivery of specially designed instruction.

Program Management

• Develop and maintain effective professional relationships with students and parents.
• Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents required.
• Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and local board policy in the areas of assessment, placement, and planning for special education services.
• Comply with all district and local campus routines and regulations.
• Participate in professional development activities to improve skills related to job assignment.
• Effectively use the special education management program
• Ensure that IEP documents are completed accurately and in a timely manner
• Support Child Find efforts throughout the district
• Assist campus staff with ensuring State and Local testing accommodations have been organized

Communication

• Maintain positive, professional, and collaborative relationships with all members of the evaluation team
• Provide communication to all necessary evaluators and related service providers about new evaluation referrals in a timely manner
• Effectively communicate with colleagues, students, parents, and supervisors
• Maintain positive and effective relationships with supervisors

Other

• Other duties as assigned
• Successfully advance district initiatives

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

Working Conditions:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Maintain emotional control under stress. Regular district wide travel to multiple work locations as assigned; moderate lifting and carrying. May be required to lift and transfer students to and from wheelchair or assist with positioning students with physical disabilities. Tolerate moderate standing, stooping, bending, and lifting 20 lbs. occasionally. 

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The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.