Assessment Manager, Large-scale Assessments – Chicago Public Schools

Title of the Job: Assessment Manager, Large-scale Assessments

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Description: Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 44,000 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.Located within the Office of Teaching and Learning, the Department of Student Assessment and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) empowers all CPS stakeholders with high-quality evidence of student learning to advance achievement, access, and opportunity for all students. The department supports schools in the development and implementation of balanced assessment systems and an MTSS Framework that enables educators to meet students’ needs.Job Summary:This position will report to the Executive Director of Student Assessment. The Assessment Manager will manage the team responsible for the policy, administration, communications, training, and logistics of national, state, and district-required assessments from Kindergarten through 12th grade.The Assessment Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Manage a team of assessment specialists responsible for all aspects of the successful administration of national, state, and district large-scale assessments, including but not limited to the ACCESS assessment, Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), PSAT 9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, Illinois Science Assessment (ISA), English Language (EL) screeners, DLM-AA, NAEP, CPS High School Admissions test, Advanced Placement Testing, the CPS Algebra Exit Exam, the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS), and testing for CPS program admissions (e.g. Classical, Gifted, etc.)
• Lead cross-functional collaboration on assessment policy development, program implementation, and communications, across departments including but not limited to the Office of Network Support (ONS), the Office of Language and Cultural Education (OLCE), the Office of Diverse Learner Supports Services (ODLSS), the Information Technology Services (ITS) team, the Office of Access and Enrollment (OAE), Office of Teaching and Learning (T&L), and the Office of College and Career Success (OCCS).
• Manage the CPS vendor relationships with relevant testing providers, including but not limited to project management and contract management in service of assessment implementation
• Serve as the primary liaison with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for assessment policy and implementation activities
• In collaboration with ISBE, assessment vendors, and CPS departments, manage the implementation of training(s) for school testing personnel such as test coordinators, test proctors, and technology coordinators
• Establish, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, materials, and standard work processes for achieving efficient, high-fidelity, and customer-focused assessment implementations that ensure test security and program integrity
• Establish, implement, and maintain strong data systems for the monitoring and reporting of implementation activities, including but not limited to required training(s), test security agreements, and other compliance submissions
• Manage the design and distribution of school, teacher, and parent-facing communications and resources for assessment preparation, implementation, results interpretation

• Facilitate the cleaning, validating, and reporting of large-scale assessment data to support district priorities by liaising with the School Quality Measurement (SQM), Information Technology Services (ITS), and Office of Access and Enrollment (OAE) teams.
• Represent the Department of Student Assessment and Chicago Public Schools in district, state, and national large-scale assessment policy and implementation convenings
• Perform related duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Assessment Manager must possess the following qualifications:Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a focus in education, educational measurement, public policy, or other relevant fields is required
• Master’s degree in the above fields or in management is preferred

Experience and Number of Years:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of professional work experience in education, including at least three (3) years of experience in a supervisor/manager role with responsibility for leading a team of direct reports, is required
• Three (3) years of experience with large-scale urban district implementation preferred
• Professional experience in assessment, policy, and large-scale operations preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated people and team management capabilities
• Exceptional organization and project-management abilities; capable of conducting multiple projects concurrently with high-quality results
• Knowledge of Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Chicago Public Schools assessment policy
• Ability to take initiative and learn quickly
• Ability to communicate, both written and orally, to a broad range of audiences, including policymakers, district leadership, and school-based staff
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills are essential
• Expertise in information data systems and technology

Conditions of EmploymentAs 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.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 – Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.

Company Name: Chicago Public Schools

Salary:

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