Introduction

The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world-class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee State and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland.
GRADE
State Salary Grade 25
Salary Range: $116,427 – $155,248
LOCATION OF POSITION
Nancy S. Grasmick Education
Building
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Note: All MSDE positions require
in-person/on-site reporting.
Main Purpose of Job
The Executive Director of Accountability
serves multiple educational programs encompassing Accountability; EdFacts,
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Career and Technical Education Perkins
reporting, and legislated and State requirements including requirements from
the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. This managerial position defines,
calculates and reports on data related to the Department’s strategic plan for
education reform and educational accountability measures. The Office is
responsible for ensuring the state’s compliance with federal reporting
requirements including the U.S. Department of Education EdFacts reporting and State
legislative reporting and Annotated Code of Maryland requirements. This
position provides strategic direction in educational accountability to report on
and provide data for school improvement efforts including the federally
required Comprehensive School Improvement and Targeted School Improvement
school identifications.
This position serves a key leadership role
providing management and technical expertise of several major projects within
federal grant initiatives. Projects include the support of the development,
implementation, maintenance and dissemination of a systemic process for
calculating and reporting on educational accountability under specific
guidelines by the federal government for the Every Student Succeeds Act and
state COMAR (Education articles (2-205, 2-206, 2-203, 5-201-5-206, 7-202,
7-203, and 7-301 Annotated Code of Maryland). The position implements and
utilizes programs and tools to support required calculations in reporting, and provides
communication materials and technical assistance to stakeholders, and justifies
to the federal and State government the Department’s accountability program
results under mandated timelines.
Finally, this position provides detailed
attention to all work activities and maintains that attention to detail while
working with urgency amidst competing priorities. This position works closely
with Local Accountability Coordinators, MSDE staff, and vendors to ensure
timely, high-quality data is available from the agency to yield positive
results for schools and local education agencies. This position will provide
technical assistance to local education agencies and MSDE staff, assessing the
needs of the agency’s offices and divisions and providing performance metrics
and ad hoc reporting on available data. Finally, the position will
supervise/manage the office’s data analysts.
POSITION DUTIES
Directs, oversees, and
serves as the strategic leader for the Maryland
Every Student Succeeds Act Accountability System, Coordinates activities for
reporting federally required data, and provides technical assistance with
regard to assessment strategies and data quality assurance.
- Manages the
creation and implementation of administrative policies, procedures and
guidelines for program goals, standards and controls to meet the requirements
for the ESSA and the educational accountability program objectives including
the engagement process for amendments to the U.S. Department of Education
related to the ESSA Accountability System.
- Provides
leadership in the Division’s conceptual and strategic planning process for the
educational accountability program.
- Develops and
manages quality assurance and risk management programs to meet the education
accountability requirements of ESSA and participates in the development,
implementation, and assessment of strategies to ensure compliance with federal
requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act and state requirements under
COMAR, Title 13A State Board of Education.
- Tracks,
monitors and defines specifications for program areas of accountability
including all measures within the indicators (Achievement, Progress, Graduation
Rate, Postsecondary Readiness, Progress towards English Language Proficiency,
School Quality and Student Success).
- Oversees and
coordinates activities related to the reporting of federally required data from
MSDE to government entities including EDFacts and Perkins.
- Interprets
federal laws, regulations, policies and procedures as they affect the
Department and its dissemination of school, school system, and state data and
develop strategies to transition given changes in regulations (for example the
change in economically disadvantaged and race codes).
- Provides
expertise in data analysis, technical assistance, and communication material
and participates in the development, implementation, prioritization and
assessment of strategies to ensure compliance with both federal and state
requirements.
- Ensures quality of data through
quality assurance (QA) programs, validations. Collaborate with other MSDE
offices and programs to continuously improve quality of data for use by MSDE.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor’s
degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
Experience: Five (5) years of experience working with
large scale accountability systems, school performance, assessment, and program
analysis and reporting initiatives; and/or high-leverage and large scale education
programs in school district, nonprofit, governmental entity, and/or university
settings. Experience
must include successfully supervising, evaluating, and/or coaching professional
staff.
Notes:
- Candidates may substitute the possession of a
Master’s degree or the equivalent of 36 credit hours of post-baccalaureate
course work in History, Social Studies, Social Sciences, or related area for two
years of the required experience directly related to the position.
- Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces
military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a
commissioned officer in Education Program classifications or Education Program
specialty codes in the Education field of work on a year-for-year basis for the
required experience and education, one year of which must have been in an
administrative supervisory or consultative capacity.
SELECTIVE QUALIFICATIONS
Documented and measurable track record of success and impact through data analysis, research,
compilation, and/or reporting programs and initiatives.
DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preference will be given to
applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Please
include clear and specific information on your application regarding your
qualifications.
- Highly
effective organizational leadership skills in order to align work processes.
- Knowledge of education
content standards, accountability standards, effective instructional
practices and assessment administration or development.
- Knowledge
and experience with data and statistical analysis and K-12 accountability
systems.
- Knowledge of
best-in-class K-12 college and career readiness trends, regulations, policies,
and issues.
- Skills collaborating
with diverse communities and organizations for the purpose of analyzing
programs and strategies.
- Skills in
effective formative and summative assessment design, and management of
large-scale assessment and evaluation contracts and projects.
- Skills and
experience in data analysis and in delivering, designing, and evaluating
effective performance reporting, data visualizations and communication
material.
- Skills in managing competing
priorities and executing on time sensitive deadlines.
- Skills in critical thinking and the ability to analyze
problems and devise effective solutions.
- Ability to
interpret and apply learning standards, policies, and regulations.
- Ability to cultivate and manage effective working
relationships across various offices/divisions, governmental entities, and
community-based stakeholders to successfully implement programs and
initiatives.
- Ability to
organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks and to work as a team leader.
- Excellent
organization, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills.
- A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and
continuously improve.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicants
must consent to State and FBI (CJIS) background check as a routine procedure
for all employees.
SELECTION PROCESS
Please
make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show
that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information
concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date.
Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or
Qualified. The resulting list of qualified candidates will be in effect for at
least one year.
BENEFITS
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
Applicants
must complete the MD State Government online application for employment and
submit
their professional resume. The application and resume must clearly
demonstrate that the applicant satisfies the minimum qualifications for the
position. Applications must be complete to be considered including all related
job duties, even if those are also listed on an attached resume. Additional
required materials may be uploaded with the online application, submitted to
the fax number, or mailed to the address listed.
If you are
unable to apply online, paper applications can be obtained from the link below
and be faxed to 410-333-8950 or mailed to MSDE Office of Human Resources, 200
W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. If there is a supplemental
questionnaire, this must be completed and sent in with your paper application.
Postmarks will not be accepted.
Inquiries
can be made to 410-767-0019, TDD 410-333-3045. Appropriate accommodations can
be made for individuals with disabilities. If you have difficulty with your
user account or have general questions about this online application system,
please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and
Examination Division at 410-767-4850. TTY Users: Call via Maryland Relay.
Proof of
eligibility to work is required in compliance with the Immigration Reform and
Control Act. Any misrepresentation of academic or experience requirements for
this position may result in non-selection or termination of employment.
As an equal
opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and
promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. Individuals
with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank
our Veterans for their service to our country.
All application
materials must be received in our office by the Closing Date.
Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are
available upon request.