Parent Involvement Specialist

Chicago Public Schools; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 44,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is seeking a Parent Involvement Specialist to coordinate training for parents and District staff, with a strategic focus on families of students with disabilities. The role reports to the Manager of Academic Access and emphasizes collaboration with parents, advocacy groups, and educators to strengthen partnerships and improve outcomes.

The position is full-time and exempt, requiring a high school diploma, two years' experience, and bilingual English/Spanish

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of two years of experience supporting parents of students with disabilities.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Knowledge of Federal and Illinois special education laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide workshops and training to parents and educators of students with disabilities that focus on collaboration, effective communication, and working with parents as equal educational partners.
• Collaborate with an advisory committee of parents of students with disabilities, special education personnel, school administration, and advocacy agencies for recommendations to improve programs and services.
• Attend local special education advisory boards/committees to provide communication to parents at the local level.
• Establish relationships with parent involvement departments and sister agencies to involve parents of students with disabilities.
• Develop needs assessments to guide District efforts in supporting parent involvement.
• Collect and analyze parent involvement data to determine correlation with student outcomes.
• Establish partnerships with advocacy agencies to create supportive networks for parents regarding collaboration with schools and educators.
• Provide and/or coordinate workshops for parents on topics to navigate the special education process.

Skills

Effective verbal and non-verbal comms

Bilingual English/Spanish

Knowledge of special education laws

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

CPS internal database

Job description

CPS Careers | Search | Apply | Get Hired

Posting Date

Aug 5, 2026, 8:59:24 PM

Primary Location

Central-42 West Madison Street (Ofc Students w/Disab-Inst Supp)

CPS Non-Union Job Grade : S04

Estimated Annual Salary Range

44,000.00 - 58,500.00

Position Type : Non-Union Position

Overtime Status

Exempt

Final salary offers are dependent upon candidate qualifications.

JOB DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) works to support networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education including instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance support. OSD provides the tools and resources to ensure that all students with disabilities receive a high-quality public education that prepares students for success. OSD supports networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education, including instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance support.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Manager, Academic Access, the Parent Involvement Specialist will be responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and supporting the Department’s goal of improving the collaborative relationships between parents, advocacy agencies, educators, and administrative personnel. A key focus will be to support the District’s family involvement initiatives with a strategic focus on families of students with disabilities. The Parent Involvement Specialist will provide and coordinate training for parents and District personnel and guide the development of information provided to parents within the Department’s website, publications, and communications. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Parent Involvement Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

Provide workshops and training to parents and educators of students with disabilities that focus on collaboration, effective communication, and working with parents as equal educational partners

Collaborate with an advisory committee of parents of students with disabilities, special education personnel, school administration, and personnel of advocacy agencies for the purpose of providing recommendations to the Chief Officer of the Office of Special Education on how to continue improving the overall quality of special education programs and services within the Chicago Public Schools

Attend local special education advisory boards/committees on an as-needed basis to provide communication to parents at the local levels

Establish relationships with existing parent involvement departments, initiatives, or sister agencies to ensure that parents of students with disabilities are participants in those efforts

Develop and utilize needs assessment for parents of students with disabilities to help guide the District’s efforts in supporting parent involvement

Collect, maintain, and analyze parent involvement data to determine the correlation of improved involvement to improved student outcomes

Establish partnerships with advocacy agencies to create supportive networks for parents that focus on collaborative relationships with schools and educators

Provide and/or coordinate workshops for parents of students with disabilities on a variety of topics that will assist them with understanding and navigating the special education process

Promote the use of early conflict resolution to help parents and educators maintain positive working relationships

Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Parent Involvement Specialist must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

High school diploma or GED equivalent, required

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferred

Experience Required:

Minimum of two (2) years of experience supporting parents of students with disabilities, required

Bilingual in English and Spanish, preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills

Knowledge of the policies and procedures relating to Federal and Illinois special education laws and regulations

Ability to comprehend and implement OSD processes and procedures

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with others

Knowledge of and ability to use modern office equipment, including Microsoft Office software, internal CPS database

Ability to work independently and manage confidential information

Experience in developing, coordinating and delivering professional training and workshops

Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural and linguistic differences of families and educators

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

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:

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

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