Assistant Director of Special Education for Compliance

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Special Education for Compliance provides leadership and oversight to ensure the division's compliance with federal and state special education laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. This position is responsible for monitoring the implementation of special education programs and services to ensure students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and applicable Virginia regulations.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for the division's special education compliance program, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations.
• Serve as the division's primary expert on IDEA, Section 504, ADA, FERPA, and Virginia special education requirements.
• Develop, implement, and monitor policies, procedures, and systems that promote legal compliance and program effectiveness.
• Establish and oversee division-wide monitoring systems, including compliance audits, file reviews, and program evaluations.
• Maintain compliance with IEP development and implementation, eligibility, evaluations, timelines, service delivery, manifestation determinations, and procedural safeguards.
• Analyze compliance data, identify trends and areas of risk, and implement corrective actions to improve compliance outcomes.
• Collaborate with legal counsel to prepare documentation, reports, and evidence for investigations, litigation, and due process proceedings.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant management of special education records, state reporting, and federal data submissions.
• Support school administrators in resolving compliance concerns, implementing corrective actions, and improving special education practices.
• Evaluate division practices and recommend improvements that strengthen consistency, efficiency, legal defensibility, and positive student outcomes.

Qualifications & Licensure

• Master's degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, or related field required.
• Valid Virginia Postgraduate Professional License with endorsements in Administration and Supervision (required) and Special Education (required).
• Minimum of five years of successful experience in special education.
• Experience in special education administration, compliance monitoring, or program leadership preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with IDEA compliance, dispute resolution, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience conducting audits, investigations, or compliance reviews preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of federal and state special education laws and regulations, including IDEA, Section 504, ADA, FERPA, and Virginia Special Education Regulations.
• Knowledge of special education procedures, including eligibility, evaluation, IEP development, service delivery, procedural safeguards, dispute resolution, and records management.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal and regulatory requirements while conducting compliance reviews, investigations, audits, and corrective action planning.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with families, school staff, administrators, legal counsel, and state agencies.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet strict deadlines, maintain confidentiality, and exercise sound professional judgment in complex situations.
• Ability to resolve conflicts, facilitate problem-solving, and navigate sensitive issues with professionalism while fostering collaborative relationships.
• Ability to balance legal compliance with student-centered decision-making, promote consistent and legally defensible practices, and support positive outcomes for students with disabilities.