Assistant Director of Special Education Compliance

Job Title:Assistant Director of Special Education Compliance

Department

FLSA Status:

Dept Code

Exempt

Special Education

SE

Job Code

Primary Supervisor:

Secondary Supervisor

Grade Band Served:

Location:

Special Education Director

NA

NA

Primarily Remote

POSITION SUMMARY: The Assistant Director of Special Education:Compliance serves as a member of the Special Education Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of special education compliance systems across Georgia Cyber Academy. This position ensures the district's compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Georgia Department of Education regulations, and all applicable federal and state laws governing services for students with disabilities.

The Assistant Director provides leadership for compliance monitoring, eligibility, evaluations, IEP implementation, state reporting, enrollment, records management, related services, dispute resolution, Child Find, and corrective action planning while collaborating closely with instructional leaders to ensure compliance practices support improved student outcomes.

As a virtual school leader, the Assistant Director must demonstrate exceptional organizational skills, strong communication, collaborative leadership, and the ability to effectively supervise staff and systems across a statewide virtual environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.The statements below are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities and/or duties required; other duties may be assigned.

• Compliance Leadership
• Provide leadership and oversight of all special education compliance systems.
• Ensure district compliance with IDEA, FERPA, Georgia State Board Rules, and Georgia Department of Education guidance.
• Monitor district compliance through ongoing audits, internal monitoring, and quality assurance systems.
• Develop and implement corrective action plans resulting from state monitoring, audits, complaints, or internal reviews.
• Ensure timely correction of identified noncompliance.
• Maintain district readiness for Georgia Department of Education monitoring, audits, and compliance reviews.
• Keep current with changes in federal and state laws and ensure implementation of updated requirements throughout the department.
• IEP, Eligibility and Evaluation Oversight
• Provide oversight of eligibility determinations, evaluations, reevaluations, and IEP development.
• Monitor procedural timelines related to referrals, evaluations, eligibility, annual reviews, reevaluations, transition planning, and services.
• Ensure compliance with FAPE, LRE, procedural safeguards, Child Find, manifestation determinations, disciplinary procedures, and transition requirements.
• Develop systems to ensure consistency and quality of IEP documentation across the district.
• Review complex cases and provide technical assistance to administrators and staff.
• State Reporting and Data Management
• Oversee Special Education State Reporting, Student Record reporting, Student Class reporting, and FTE reporting.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of special education data submitted to the Georgia Department of Education.
• Develop compliance dashboards and data reports for district leadership.
• Analyze compliance data to identify trends, areas for improvement, and systemic needs.
• Collaborate with district departments to improve data quality and reporting processes.
• Related Services Leadership
• Oversee contracted related service providers including credentialing, contracts, service delivery expectations, documentation, and compliance.
• Monitor provider performance and compliance with district expectations.
• Collaborate with the Director of Special Education regarding contracts, staffing needs, and vendor management.
• Ensure related services are delivered in accordance with IEPs and state/federal regulations.
• Legal Compliance and Parent Support
• Serve as the district lead for procedural safeguards, mediation, state complaints, due process hearings, and other legal matters involving special education.
• Collaborate with district legal counsel regarding compliance issues and litigation.
• Facilitate communication between families, advocates, school personnel, and district leadership to resolve concerns proactively.
• Assist with responding to OCR complaints, state complaints, and other compliance investigations.
• Promote positive parent partnerships while protecting student rights.
• Leadership and Staff Development
• Supervise assigned compliance personnel, records staff, evaluation staff, enrollment specialists, and other assigned personnel.
• Conduct evaluations, coaching, and ongoing professional growth for supervised staff.
• Lead district-wide professional learning related to:
• IDEA
• FAPE
• LRE
• Procedural safeguards
• Eligibility
• Evaluation procedures
• Transition planning
• IEP development
• Documentation requirements
• Compliance best practices
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for compliance processes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives aligned to district strategic goals.
• Cross-Department Collaboration
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Special Education: Instruction to ensure compliance supports high-quality specially designed instruction.
• Partner with Curriculum and Instruction, Assessment, Instructional Support Services, Enrollment, Information Systems, Human Resources, Finance, and School Leadership to improve services for students with disabilities.
• Participate on district leadership committees and strategic planning teams.
• Support district initiatives focused on improving student achievement and inclusive practices.
• Program Administration
• Assist the Director of Special Education with departmental planning, budgeting, staffing recommendations, and strategic initiatives.
• Prepare reports for district leadership, the Georgia Department of Education, and other agencies.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, and mentoring special education leadership staff.
• Represent Georgia Cyber Academy at state meetings, conferences, and professional organizations.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Directly supervises assigned compliance leadership personnel, records staff, enrollment specialists, and related services support personnel. Provides indirect leadership and technical assistance to special education teachers, LEAs, school psychologists, related service providers, administrators, and contracted personnel.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership Tier I Certification
  
  

Certificates and Licenses: Valid Georgia Professional Standards Commission certification in one or more of the following:

• Educational Leadership
• Special Education
• School Psychology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Related Services discipline appropriate for the position
  
  

Experience

• Minimum five years successful experience in special education.
• Minimum three years leadership experience in special education administration or related leadership role.
• Experience supervising personnel.
• Experience with IDEA compliance and state monitoring.
• Experience interpreting federal and state special education regulations.
• Experience working within a virtual or online educational environment
  
  

Technical Proficiency

• Demonstrated proficiency with Google Workspace for Education (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drive, Gmail, Meet, and Calendar).
• Experience utilizing web-based educational, compliance, and student information platforms.
• Proficiency using virtual collaboration platforms and learning management systems.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, ChatGPT, or similar platforms) to enhance leadership, communication, workflow efficiency, data analysis, and decision-making while adhering to district policies regarding privacy, confidentiality, and responsible AI use.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Specialist or Doctoral Degree
• Educational Leadership Tier II Certification
• Experience leading state monitoring or corrective action processes
• Experience managing contracted related services
• Experience with strategic planning, data dashboards, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Experience developing professional learning for adult learners
  
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT: This position is a hybrid position that requires frequent virtual collaboration with district personnel across the state. Regular weekly/monthly travel to district offices, staff meetings, conferences, professional development, state GMAS testing and other required events is expected.

The position requires prolonged periods of sitting, computer work, virtual meeting facilitation, and occasional lifting of instructional materials or equipment up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.