.5 Case Manager

CPS; Illinois; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness benefits

Retirement plans (Pension, 403(b) and

Sick, vacation, parental leaves

Job summary

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is seeking a Case Manager to oversee IDEA/504 compliance, coordinate IEP development, and chair conferences. The role focuses on ensuring timely evaluations, parental communication, and collaboration with administrators, staff, and families.

The position requires a background in special education, appropriate licensure, and at least two years of experience. This on-site role offers comprehensive health, retirement, and work-life benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in special education or a Master’s in educational administration.
• A valid Professional Educator License (PEL) in Special Education (PK-Age 21) or School Support Personnel with supervisory endorsement.
• Two or more years of experience in special education.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations related to special education and 504/IDEA processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the local school district representative at required meetings under IDEA and as 504 Coordinator.
• Chair IEP and 504 conferences and ensure timely completion of IEP/504 documents.
• Coordinate referrals for FIE evaluations and related assessments within required timelines.
• Ensure parental notices and consents are provided in the native language where feasible.

Skills

Special education knowledge

Curriculum knowledge

Data-driven communication

Collaborative skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in special education

Master’s degree in educational administration

Professional Educator License (PEL) in Special Education or School Support Personnel with supervisory endorsement

Tools

SSM system

Job description

Case Manager Position

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every child—in every school and every neighborhood—has access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school college- and career-ready. In alignment with the mission of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services (ODLSS), our schools strive to provide high quality and specially designed instructional supports and services for all students with disabilities within their least restrictive environment. We work collaboratively with the goal of improving the academic achievement of all students with disabilities by ensuring they receive meaningful and relevant access to grade level core instruction within their school.

The Case Manager position is solely committed to fulfilling the responsibilities indicated below. This position differs from a person at the school being assigned the duty/role of Case Manager that allows for the receipt of a stipend. The Case Manager position does not include a stipend.

The Case Manager position will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Serving as the local school district representative at all required meetings under the IDEA and serving as the 504 Coordinator for all meetings under Section 504
• Fulfilling all the Roles & Responsibilities delineated in the ODLSS Procedural Manual for the local school district representative
• Ensuring all IDEA and Section 504 timelines are met
• Ensuring that all parental notices and consents for Full and Individual Evaluations and placements are processed and provided in the native language where feasible and placed in the student temporary files
• Sending parents/guardians copy of draft IEP materials and if applicable paraprofessional, ESY ,and Learning Environment Intervention forms, along with copies of all other conducted evaluations and any other collected data at least five school days prior to the meeting
• Ensuring an interpreter is invited to all IEP and 504 conferences (including initial and reevaluation eligibility determination meetings, and annual reviews) for parents who are limited English proficient
• Coordinating all referrals for a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) to ensure that all required components are addressed and that the process is completed within 60 school days after receiving signed parental consent, including but not limited to, referrals for Assistive Technology/Alternative-Augmentative Communication evaluations or functional behavioral assessments (FBAs)
• Convening and chairing IEP and 504 conferences (including initial and reevaluation eligibility determination meetings, and annual reviews) and acting as the District Representative
• Ensuring that IEP teams are utilizing qualitative and quantitative data when making service decisions in the development of an IEP
• Finalizing each student’s IEP or 504 Plan in the SSM at the meeting and providing the student’s parents/guardians with a copy
• Ensuring that all relevant student data is entered into SSM in a timely manner
• Arranging special education and related services for a student within the school in accordance with the students IEP and contacting ODLSS to arrange assignment in another school if necessary to implement the IEP
• Consulting with the ODLSS District Representative regarding students who require low-incidence services or regarding problems that develop in the implementation of procedures
• In collaboration with the principal, overseeing and ensuring the implementation of all IEPs and 504 Plans for each student with disabilities in the school
• Training and supporting school staff regarding the implementation of the IDEA and Section 504 requirements
• Attending all ODLSS professional development and meetings targeted at supporting the case manager/local school district representative
• Assisting the school’s scheduler/programmer with programming all students with disabilities in accordance with their IEPs
• In collaboration with the principal, scheduling paraprofessionals in accordance with students’ IEPs and 504 Plans

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Case Manager, must possess the following qualifications, as described:

Type of Education:

• Completion of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in special education or a Master’s degree in educational administration
• A valid Professional Educator License (PEL) in one of the following areas: Special Education (PK-Age 21) endorsement or School Support Personnel endorsement with a supervisory endorsement

Type of Experience and Number of Years:

• Two or more years of experience in special education

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Expertise in special education curriculum and service provision
• Knowledge of general education curriculum
• Demonstrated understanding of the individual needs of students with disabilities from a variety of language and cultural backgrounds
• Strong knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations regarding the delivery of special education and related services
• Knowledge and understanding of CPS resources
• Knowledge of intervention and assessment strategies for disabled and non-disabled students
• Knowledge of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS or RTI)
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, staff, students, parents, governmental and community agencies, and employers
• Ability to problem-solve, work on a team, use data to guide work, and clearly communicate to multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated expertise in customer service, consensus building, and use of problem solving skills and strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills

Benefits:

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice
CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You’ll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

• Medical Plan Options
• Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Behavioral Health & EAP
• Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow
We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

• Basic Life Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Pension Plans
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life
CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Days
• Parental Leaves
• Short-Term Disability
• Religious Holidays
• Leaves

Reference theChicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overviewor thebenefits handbookfor comprehensive details.