Job Description:
Director of 504 Compliance - Student Support Services - Hartford Public Schools
Reports To: Executive Director of Student Support Services or Designee
Terms: 12-month position | HPSA 2026-2027 Schedule, Group 12: $149,609 - $162,873
Certification: Connecticut Intermediate Administrative Certification (092) required
PRIMARY FUNCTION: The Director of 504 Compliance provides districtwide leadership, oversight, and accountability for Hartford Public Schools implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This role establishes the systems, procedures, training, and monitoring that ensure students with disabilities are appropriately identified, evaluated, accommodated, and supported across every school and program.
As the districts lead subject-matter resource, the Director partners with school leaders, 504 coordinators, Health Services, Special Education, Legal/Labor Relations, families, and external educational partners. This is a districtwide equity role - protecting student civil rights, removing barriers to access, and advancing whole-child wellness in one of Connecticuts most diverse urban districts.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Compliance
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for the districts Section 504 program, ensuring consistent implementation of federal law, Board policy, and district procedures
- Develop and maintain districtwide 504 procedures, guidance documents, forms, and decision-making tools
- Monitor compliance through case reviews, school audits, data analysis, and corrective-action follow-up
- Identify compliance risks and systemic trends; report findings and recommendations to district leadership
Case Oversight & Family Support
- Serve as the district point of escalation for complex, sensitive, and disputed 504 cases
- Facilitate or attend 504 meetings warranting district-level participation, including out-of-district magnet, charter, and choice-school placements
- Support timely resolution of parent/guardian concerns through clear communication and collaborative problem solving
- Coordinate with Health Services and school nurses on emergency care plans for medically fragile students
Capacity Building & Professional Learning
- Lead a comprehensive professional-learning framework for school-based 504 coordinators, administrators, and related-service staff
- Coach school teams to conduct equitable, legally defensible 504 meetings and make data-informed eligibility decisions
- Develop targeted training in response to compliance findings, legal developments, and school needs
Data, Systems & Accountability
- Oversee districtwide 504 data collection and reporting across electronic student management systems, including 504 Direct
- Establish data-quality standards for eligibility, plans, reviews, and accommodations
- Develop dashboards and trend analyses; use data to identify disparities and implementation gaps
Legal & Interdepartmental Coordination
- Partner with district legal counsel on 504 complaints, Office for Civil Rights matters, and corrective actions
- Maintain current knowledge of Section 504, Title II, federal and state guidance, and relevant case law
- Collaborate across Special Education, Health Services, Academics, Enrollment, and Transportation to ensure coordinated services
- Supervise, coach, and evaluate assigned staff; lead improvement initiatives that strengthen 504 systems and student access
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelors degree in a related field required; Masters in education, educational leadership, special education, school counseling, social work, public administration, law, or health services preferred
- Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in Section 504, disability compliance, student support services, special education, school counseling, or school health
- Demonstrated expertise in Section 504 and Title II, including identification, evaluation, accommodation, and procedural safeguards
- Experience leading complex compliance matters and developing legally defensible procedures
- Experience designing and facilitating professional learning for multidisciplinary teams
- Experience with student information or case-management systems; 504 Direct preferred
- Strong leadership, supervision, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, student access, and continuous improvement in an urban school district
- Bilingual English/Spanish preferred