About KIPP Texas Public Schools

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a free, public charter school network with more than 45 Pre-K through 12 schools across Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. With over 30 years in Texas, we work together with our families and communities to prepare students for college, career, and beyond. Our schools provide a high-quality, well-rounded education built on academic success and personal growth, where all students learn and thrive in a productive, safe, and joyful way.

Founded in Houston in 1994 and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, we hire dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. KIPP Public Schools is a national network of 278 schools with nearly 16,500 educators and 190,000 students and alumni.

Role Overview

The Special Populations Specialist supports the strategic vision for special education across KIPP Texas, assists in ensuring excellent communication and coordination for special populations teams, and brings deep knowledge of IDEA, Texas State Education Law, Section 504, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

Compliance and Documentation

• •Schedule or assist in scheduling Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) meetings and notify parents, including distributing ARD calendars to appropriate committee members in a timely fashion.
• •Ensure Individual Transition Plan elements are completed in applicable cases and notify school personnel of ARD meeting schedule changes.
• •Ensure federal and state timelines are met for ARD Committee meetings, additional assessment requests, and required timelines.
• •Write, monitor, and submit ARD paperwork by compliance due dates.
• •Complete required documentation and reports for the special education department by due dates, including transportation forms, extended service year (ESY) forms, and October snapshot.
• •Complete appropriate ARD supplements and collect applicable data such as ESY regression, IEP, and BIP.
• •Follow beginning, middle, and end of year procedures and submit appropriate summer program student recommendations.
• •Ensure 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

• •Maintain systematic communication between special and general education personnel regarding ARD meetings, IEPs, student accommodations, and instructional concerns.
• •Maintain positive relationships with school staff, parents, and community members.
• •Provide coaching to school-based special education managers and other staff supporting 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.
• •Maintain current state assessment rosters and submit referral sheets for additional testing, re-evaluation, and related services.
• •Maintain 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 trust with 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 and provide monthly professional development, newsletter input, and communication to offer ongoing coaching and guidance to 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.
• •Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned by the Senior Director of Special Populations.

Work Environment

• •Hybrid work model: reports to the central office or schools three days per week.
• •Reliable transportation required for travel between campuses.
• •Minimal travel to other school sites or regional offices for professional learning, meetings, and other work-related activities.
• •Must be able to move about inside and outside the school throughout the workday.
• •Must be able to attend conferences, meetings, and training sessions both virtually and in person within the region.
• •Ability to maintain emotional control under stress and work with frequent interruptions.

Compensation and Benefits

• •Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with coverage options for employees and their families.
• •Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off policies.
• •Paid family leave.
• •Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.
• •Employee assistance programs.
• •Optional employee-paid benefits: legal plans, LifeLock identity protection, life insurance, and disability insurance.