Parent Involvement Specialist

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