Job Description
GENERAL SERVICE
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Administrative Program Specialist 1 - Special Education
$58,380 - $ 78,468 annually
Recruitment Closes April 1, 2025
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) seeks to fill Administrative Program Specialist 1 (APS 1). This full-time position is based in Olympia, Washington. This position may be eligible for partial to near full-time telework. Telework is a combination of in-building and off-site days. We encourage interested candidates to visit the OSPI website to gain insight into our agency.
About OSPI and our initiatives
OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K–12 education in Washington state. Working with the state's 295 public school districts and 7 state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education.
At OSPI, we recognize that our employees are the key to the success of the agency. We are committed to our work but value the balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth and values them for their expertise. OSPI is a great place to work and has several initiatives to help create a great working environment, including:
We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules and mobile and telework options. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
We have a tuition assistance policy and support employees seeking tuition waiver through participating higher education organizations.
We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on long-term values of newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
We value and are actively involved in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within OSPI by way of cross-divisional, collaborative committee. The focus of the committee includes employee engagement and education; reinforcing OSPI values; and maximizing the value of diversity and identifying strategies for inclusion.
Position Overview
This position supports the agency's mission by providing assistance to the Assistant Director of Special Education Data Operations with Safety Net activities. Safety Net is funded at over $200M per state fiscal year and is available to local education agencies (LEAs) that demonstrate a need in excess of state and federal funding. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Special Education Services may receive 6,000+ individual high-needs student applications each year.
Key Responsibilities
Duty: Safety Net Program Administration
Tasks include:
Support drafting responses to safety net inquiries and requests for technical assistance by providing guidance on federal and state regulations related to Safety Net reimbursement.
Support the APS2 with drafting the annual Safety Net Bulletin with application instructions, user-friendly documents, and established timelines for submission of applications and Committee action dates.
Develop training materials and support the APS2 with providing Safety Net trainings to school district and Educational Service District (ESD) employees.
Provide guidance and coaching to school districts new to Safety Net applications, utilizing expert knowledge of federal and state Safety Net regulations.
Assist with development of procedures around review of Safety Net applications.
Support the team's technical assistance process (i.e., responding to phone calls and emails), including workflow design and identifying improvement recommendations.
Duty: Safety Net Application Review and Data Analysis
Tasks include:
Review Safety Net Individual High Need applications for compliance with rules and guidelines; support districts to address gaps in application materials; collaborate with APS2 to develop recommendations for approval and/or award amount to the Assistant Director of Special Education Data Operations and for Safety Net Oversight Committee review and approval.
Conduct Safety Net data analyses for review by and discussion with the Assistant Director of Special Education Data Operations and other OSPI divisions, including Government Relations.
Assist with drafting the annual Safety Net survey and legislative report.
Participate in confidential application fiscal reviews for accuracy and completeness.
Responsible for entering, reviewing, and validating Safety Net data in the application platform, including maintaining student and staff confidentiality and protecting personally identifiable information.
Duty: Safety Net Committee Meeting Preparation
Tasks include:
Review Safety Net webpage content, design, and format, and suggest revisions.
Prepare, format, and distribute materials for review and approval to the Safety Net Oversight Committee.
Support APS 2 with ensuring all documents are ADA-compliant.
Proofread and copyedit documents to align with OSPI style guidelines.
Provide technical support for trainings and webinars, including managing Zoom meetings.
Manage communication for events, including ad creation and participant correspondence.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in education, public or business administration or related field AND one or more years’ experience in state or district level administration of the Safety Net Program; to include background with individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and school finance.
OR
Five (5) years’ experience in state or district level administration of the Safety Net Program; to include background with individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and school finance.
Note: Experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis, for a total of 5 years combined education and experience.
Desired Qualifications:
Master’s degree in education, public or business administration or related field, AND three or more years’ experience in state or district level administration of the Safety Net Program; to include background with individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and school finance.
Compensation
The annual compensation for the position is Range 54, $58,380–$78,468 per year, and depends upon experience, educational background, and qualifications. Geographic differentials may be applied based on the work location of the successful candidate. Washington State offers a generous benefit package including health, dental, and life insurance, retirement, and an optional deferred compensation program.
Application Process
Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov . Applications must include the following documents in MS Word and PDF format only :
A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement;
A current résumé, and;
A list of three or more professional references.
Please address any questions to:
Sal Salazar, Human Resources
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
600 Washington Street Southeast
Olympia, Washington 98504-7200
360-725-6278 : sal.salazar@k12.wa.us
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 725-6270 or (360) 725-6066, or e-mail hroffice@k12.wa.us .
OSPI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers who will contribute to our diversity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr State of Washington
Job Tags
Full time, Local area, Remote job, Flexible hours,