ARD Facilitator

Job Description

The Special Education ARD Facilitator serves as a critical support to special populations, faculty and school leaders, providing guidance in the areas of IEP development, 504 plans, and compliance. This role collaborates closely with other school-based personnel to ensure the development and delivery of high-quality, individualized educational programs for students with diverse learning needs. By ensuring adherence to legal standards, and ensuring compliance with IDEA and Texas State Education Law & Regulations, Section 504 Law & Regulations, the ARD Facilitator helps advance the mission of KIPP Texas Public Schools—ensuring that every student has the tools and supportive environment necessary to thrive.

The ARD Facilitator is responsible for developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans for students receiving special education and 504 services. This role supports the development of high-quality, inclusive instruction and ensures fidelity to both instructional best practices and legal requirements. In partnership with the Director of ARD Facilitation, the ARD Facilitator provides direct support to campuses and collaborates with campus  teams to promote consistency and quality across the network. The ARD Facilitator builds capacity and fosters a strong culture of collaboration and accountability in service of students with diverse learning needs.

• Strategy: Support the strategic vision to ensure that KTX school and regional teams implement the Special Education Strategic Plan and provide comprehensive improvement of school performance using a collaborative approach to clear and specific performance targets aligned to the Special Education Strategic Plan and execute, monitor, edit  strategic plans, annual goals and quarterly benchmarking for departmental improvement.

• Communication: Assists the Director of ARD Facilitation in ensuring KTX special populations teams are provided excellent communication, customer service and well-coordinated support. 

• Legal Framework & Compliance: Possess experience and knowledge of IDEA and Texas State Education Law & Regulations, Section 504 Law & Regulations  and understanding of the essential elements of compliance.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Compliance and Documentation

• Schedules, or assists in scheduling, Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) meetings and notifies parents of the ARD meeting, including distributing of ARD calendar to appropriate ARD Committee members in a timely fashion; ensures that Individual Transition Plan elements are completed in the applicable cases; notifies all appropriate school personnel of ARD meeting/ARD schedule changes

• Ensures that federal/state timelines are met with respect to functions of ARD Committee meetings: requests for additional assessments and required timelines set by ARD Committee

• Writes and monitors ARD paperwork and submits ARD paperwork by the compliance due date

• Completes required documentation and reports required by the special education department by due dates (e.g. transportation forms, extended service year (ESY) forms, October snapshot, etc)

• Completes appropriate ARD supplements and collects appropriate data (i.e., ESY regression, individual educational plan (IEP), behavior improvement plan (BIP, etc.)

• Follows beginning, middle, and end of year procedures and submits appropriate summer program student recommendations

• Ensure that IEPs, other special education documentation, and 504 plans are compliant with federal, state, and district regulations.

• Participate in IEP meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and other relevant meetings to discuss student progress

Support and Communication

• Maintains systematic communication between special and general education personnel with respect to ARD meetings and decisions, IEPs, student accommodations, and instructional concerns and progress

• Maintains positive relationships with school staff, parents, and community members

• Provide coaching to school-based special education managers and other staff that support special populations students across all grade bands, including self-contained classrooms on MTSS, 504, and Special Education

• Provide support for special population compliance across the organization 

Data Analysis and Improvement

• Analyze school data including 504, and ARD compliance to inform school based support and assistance

• Maintains current state assessment rosters and submits referral sheets (additional testing, re-evaluation, etc.) including those for related services. Maintains communication between assessment personnel and related service providers

• Use data to develop goals and support the education needs of special populations students

Stakeholder Engagement

• Cultivate the trust of all key stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and administrators, to support student success

• Maintain productive working relationships with other internal departments and lead troubleshooting efforts when issues arise with special populations

• Serve as the Special Populations team Liaison, ensuring effective communication and collaboration between teams

Professional Development

• Support/provide monthly PD, newsletter input, communication, to provide ongoing coaching and guidance to the school-based staff

• Develop and deliver training on organization structures, processes, and procedures necessary to support effective compliance

• Collaborate with the Director of ARD Facilitation and school staff to resolve TEA complaints

Other Duties

   Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned by the Senior Director of Special Populations

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Special Education Certification

• Satisfactory outcome background check

• 3+ years experience teaching with a focus on special education services

• Knowledge of 504, and the 13 eligibility categories under IDEA

COMPETENCY AND SKILLS:

• Unwavering commitment to KIPP Texas mission, students, families, and community

• Special Knowledge/Skills Understands the function of the Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) 

• Committee meeting and an understanding of special education law and procedures.

• Strong record of helping students achieve academic success, primarily with students in educationally underserved communities

• Desire to continuously learn and increase effectiveness as an ARD Facilitator and professional; offer and receive constructive feedback

• Willingness to be flexible and to go above and beyond to meet the needs of KIPP Texas students

Physical Requirements: 

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside the school throughout the workday.

• The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in person within the Region. 

Additional Requirements:

• Reliable transportation is needed for travel between campuses

• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress.

• Work with frequent interruptions.

Work Environment: 

• Reports to school site Monday-Friday.

• Typical school environment with frequent interruptions.

Travel Requirements: 

• Regular travel; may travel to other school sites or regional offices for professional learning or meetings.

Additional Information

What We Bring to the Table: 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with coverage options for employees and their families. 

• Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off (PTO) policies.

• Paid family leave.

• Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.

• Employee assistance programs. 

• KIPP also offers the following employee-paid benefits: legal plans, LifeLock identity protection, life insurance and disability insurance

EEO:

KIPP Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KIPP Texas ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact the Talent Team.

 Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job duties. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.