Transition Specialist, High School Networks

CPS; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in Chicago is seeking a Transition Specialist to support schools, families, and students through the high school transfer process. The role focuses on identifying best-fit Options Schools and ensuring smooth enrollment from sending to receiving sites.

Responsibilities include reviewing transfer requests within 24 hours, coordinating with Options School staff, tracking enrollment, and partnering with Juvenile Justice, SOAR, and SEL teams to provide targeted supports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with high school students.
• Commitment to educational equity and strong relationship-building with families and staff.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with attention to detail and organization.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and willingness to learn Smartsheets.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a student advocate throughout the transfer process.
• Maintain open communication with CPS staff and operators.
• Coordinate all Options School transfer processes and review transfer requests within 24 hours.
• Ensure students are enrolled at best-fit Options Schools with needed supports.
• Track enrollment status and provide follow-up for approved transfers.
• Support ALOP admission reviews and collaborate with multiple district teams.

Skills

Relationship building

Time management

Organizational skills

Google Workspace proficiency

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Smartsheets

Google Sheets

Gmail

Google Slides

Google Docs

Google Calendars

Job description

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 325,000 students in 500 schools and employing nearly 36,000 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. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

District-run CPS schools are organized into 18 networks. The Office of Network Support provides administrative support, strategic direction, and leadership development to the schools within each network while also driving critical supports that boost student learning.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Chief of Schools within the Office of Network Support, the Transition Specialist will support schools, families, students and the Network offices to ensure students who are transferring, or considering doing so, are able to efficiently and effectively move through the transfer process. This role will also identify whether a transfer is in the best interest of a student and if so, identify the best-fit school for the student and ensure a cohesive and smooth transition from the sending school to the receiving school. This is a full-time exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Transition Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Serve as a student advocate throughout the entire transfer process, ensuring the student is enrolled in a high school and receiving support that best meets their individual goals and circumstances.
• Maintain open, responsive, and authentic communication with all traditional and Options School staff and operators.
• Coordinate entire Options School transfer process including:
• Review Options School Transfer requests within 24 hours of receipt and make a determination, based on the High School transition guidelines, as to whether the transfer request should be recommended for approval.
• Consult with key staff to ensure transferring students are successfully enrolled and supported at a best-fit Options School (i.e. location, academic program/learning model, supports offered, etc.).
• Follow up with comments and next steps for all approved requests to ensure a smooth transition for the student.
• Maintain communication with the sending school and obtain completed Options Transfer Checklists for each transfer.
• Track enrollment status to ensure transferring students have a timely/immediate enrollment into an Options School.
• Support schools in completing a Support & Intervention Plan for any student whose transfer request is not approved.
• As needed, support students who are transferring from one high school to another (i.e. charter to neighborhood school, selective enrollment to charter, etc.). These supports may include:
• Determine whether the transfer is needed or if the student could/would prefer to stay in their current school.
• If the student stays in their current school, coordinate with the school to provide the student with needed support and resources.
• If transfer is desired by the student/family, ensure that the student is successfully enrolled in their new school and upon transfer, receives needed resources and support.
• Assist in the 14/15-year-old Alternative Learning Opportunity Program (ALOP) admission process including reviewing transfer requests, creating individualized plans for students whose transfers are approved and conducting follow-up meetings with the student(s) and school(s).
• Partner with other key staff including the Juvenile Justice team, SOAR Team, and SEL Specialists to ensure students who are transferring (or were referred to transfer) are receiving the necessary individualized support.
• In partnership with the data strategist and Network team, review data to identify trends and flags, and create corresponding action steps to continue to develop best practices regarding supporting students who are, or are likely to, transfer high schools.
• Assist in developing and implementing continuous training for staff and administrators at traditional and Options schools on the Options transfer policy, process and overall transfer best practices.
• Troubleshoot administrative challenges with transfers (i.e. student not being released from sending school, etc.)
• Support additional district initiatives related to enrolling and engaging high school students.
• Other duties and workstreams as assigned

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

Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of previous experience working with high school-aged students required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A deep commitment to educational equity, including a willingness to regularly self-reflect and learn on matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic and trusting relationships with families, students and adult stakeholders including teachers and administrators.
• Possess a track record of managing multiple projects/tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent organization skills and a high degree of attention to detail.
• Possess an unwavering commitment to producing high-quality work products.
• Excellent computer skills with a strong working knowledge of, or willingness to quickly learn, G-suite (Google Sheets, G-mail, Google slides, Google Docs, Google Calendars); willingness to learn Smartsheets.

Conditions of Employment

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.