Options School Compliance and Reporting Specialist

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 310,000 students in 600+ 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.

The Options Network provides administrative support, strategic direction, and leadership development to its schools, mirroring the support model found across the district’s traditional networks. However, the Options Network is unique in its dual-function, serving as both support infrastructure and the authorizing body for a highly diverse portfolio of 36 schools and programs serving approximately 6,000 students. While the network includes traditional district-run schools, 32 of its 36 schools operate as non-district entities (charter, contract, and ALOP models). Consequently, the network’s authorization function demands rigorous, continuous oversight, monitoring, support, and evaluation across three critical pillars: academic performance, financial stability, and operational compliance.

Position Summary: 

Reporting to the Director of Authorization and School Options, the School Compliance & Reporting Specialist will hold schools accountable to criteria set forth in their School Agreements with the Board of Education of the City of Chicago (the “Board”), applicable CPS policy, and the Illinois Charter Schools Law.  This role will assist in the implementation of processes used to support schools in remaining compliant with all aspects of schools agreements including managing the compliance platform and serving as a liaison to partner departments. This role will be responsible for directly supporting Options Schools and monitoring day-to-day operations, services, and performance metrics to inform renewal processes.

The School Compliance & Reporting Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities: 

• Managing the web-based compliance platform utilized by internal and external stakeholders to collect and store documentation submitted by schools to the District 

• Provide general support for the Authorization team in managing the annual renewal process, which utilizes data regarding a school’s academic, financial, and operational performance to provide recommendations to the Board on school actions

• Assist in the preparation of materials, oversight of procedures and implementation of effective strategies related to school closure, consolidation and relocation 

• Serve as liaison with partner departments to monitor and hold schools accountable for operational compliance related to student discipline, safety, transportation, parent issues and admission and enrollment

• Assist in the execution of the contract amendment process

• Assist in the ongoing assessment of academic performance accountability and contribute to the development of strategic formal and informal accountability metrics

• Support development and implementation of proactive strategies to improve performance, compliance and communication

• Assist in the preparation of materials required for board presentations regarding policy and renewal recommendations as well as long-term portfolio strategy

• Converge with partner departments to ensure implementation of various CPS initiatives, and working to ensure that initiatives are equitably offered to charter, contract and ALOP schools

• Monitor, troubleshoot, and provide direct support for schools to ensure compliance with requirements dictated by legislation, policy, and school agreements with the Chicago Board of Education

• Support for monitoring and reporting on the scope of services implementation for Alternative Learning Opportunities Programs (ALOP)

• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the School Compliance & Reporting Specialist must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, required 

Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of related experience, including a minimum of two (2) years of professional data analysis and/or compliance experience, required

• Experience coordinating strategic initiatives involving multiple, cross-functional stakeholders, required

• Experience working for a school district or education-related agency, preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to use spreadsheets and pivot tables, organize and interpret data, and provide high-level data support

• Ability to understand and organize large data sets

• Strong advocacy, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to make sound decisions through the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data

• Ability to manage concurrent projects and balance competing priorities and deadlines

• Demonstrated detail orientation, problem-solving, and follow-through skills

• Excellent communication skills (Verbal, Written, Presentation);

• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, especially through policy briefs and PowerPoint presentations

• Competence and creativity in the visual display of information

• Knowledge of educational performance measures, educational research, and urban education systems

• Ability to define problems, and outline valid conclusions and action steps

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.