Alternate Assessment Specialist

Serves as an unclassified employee pursuant to Section 3301.13 R.C. and performs the following duties in the Office of Assessment:

• Coordinates and oversees the development and administration of Ohio’s alternate academic and English language proficiency assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities;

• Develops, presents, and/or provides resources for the administration of Ohio’s statewide assessments:

• Communicates assessment policies established by state, federal, and Department statute, regulation, and/or policy;

• Oversees contracts for quality and accuracy of content and deliverables and for compliance to ensure statewide assessments and related materials are developed, formatted, reviewed, printed, and distributed to districts/schools by deliverable dates;

• Provides ongoing planning and communication with contractors regarding the development of assessments and ancillary materials, administration procedures, scoring, and reporting;

• Monitors contractors to ensure effective item development and implementation of the statewide assessments, especially the alternate assessments;

• Participates in quality control of online and paper-based statewide assessments;

• Ensures contractors’ adherence to established timelines and contractual obligations and performance

• Interprets and explains testing policies and state participation guidelines including appropriate eligibility for alternate assessments and application of test accessibility and accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners with disabilities;

• Provides technical assistance to school officials, parents, students, and the public regarding the administration of statewide assessments in accordance state, federal, and Department statute, regulation, and/or policy (e.g., assists with understanding administration process and results):

• Ensures current assessment information is available through a variety of sources (e.g., web, email, newsletters, webinars, social media, reports);

• Reviews changing state and federal laws, best practices, educational data, and research and recommends policy changes as needed;

• Monitors state test progress and test security incidents according to established rules and procedures;

• Processes student testing alerts according to rules and procedures;

• Facilitates and/or attends committee meetings;

• Develops training materials and presentations and presents information to groups.

Performs other duties as assigned.

The work location of this position is 25 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You will be required to report to this work location full-time, if selected.

If this position is filled with an internal employee who has an approved telework agreement, the employee may be required to report in-person during the initial training period.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

• Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Minimum qualifications

• Six years’ experience in any combination of the following areas:
  • Working in an educational setting (e.g., K-12, higher education) in one of the following capacities (e.g., educational administrator or teacher with experience in development of districtwide/schoolwide curriculum/assessments)
  • Monitoring and ensuring compliance with contractual specifications, program requirements, timelines for deliverables
  • Interpreting statute and code, law (e.g., operating standards, Ohio Revised Code, Ohio Administrative Code, state/federal requirements and guidelines), providing assistance to stakeholders
  • Performing one of the following (i.e., measurement/psychometrics, educational policy development, assessment/evaluation) in a government and/or educational setting

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent post-bachelor course work
• Experience teaching students with low incidence and communication disabilities
• Knowledge of student assessment or educational measurement, public education procedures, and/or contract oversight
• Knowledge of test accessibility and accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners with disabilities
• Ability to analyze data, define problems, recommend solutions, and handle sensitive information with school personnel, vendors, and the public
• Able to use current technology, including computers and online testing technology
• Commitment to excellence, professionalism, strong interpersonal communication skills, good judgment of situations, excellent customer service, and solution driven
• Interest in professional growth and development, willingness to learn policies/procedures/manuals
• Competency in program improvement in content, methods, and materials

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check as well as other investigative reviews. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position, unless restricted under state or federal law or federal restrictions. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

The final applicant for this position will be required to submit urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to an appointment. The State will decline to extend a final offer of employment to any applicant with a verified positive test result. Also, an applicant with a positive test result will not be considered for any position with the State of Ohio for a period of one year.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that values diversity and seeks talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class. Questions or concerns about this should be directed to the Office of Human Resources ([email protected]).

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.