The EC Compliance Coordinator supports Sugar Creek Charter School's commitment to providing high-quality, legally compliant services to students with disabilities in grades K-12. This position monitors the implementation of federal, state, and local Exceptional Children requirements; supports accurate and timely documentation in ECATS; coordinates compliance activities; and provides guidance to EC teachers, related service providers, school leaders, and other staff members.
The EC Compliance Coordinator works closely with the Director of Exceptional Children to ensure that Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), evaluations, reevaluations, eligibility determinations, progress reports, service delivery, and student records are completed accurately and within required timelines. The coordinator also helps strengthen staff knowledge, improve systems, and promote consistent EC practices across all SCCS campuses.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Compliance Monitoring
- Monitor compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), North Carolina policies governing services for children with disabilities, Section 504 when applicable, and SCCS procedures.
- Maintain systems for tracking initial referrals, evaluations, reevaluations, eligibility determinations, annual IEP reviews, progress reports, transitions, and other required deadlines.
- Review ECATS records and EC documentation regularly to identify missing, incomplete, inaccurate, or overdue items.
- Monitor the timely completion and implementation of IEPs, prior written notices, invitations, consent forms, evaluations, service documentation, and progress reports.
- Ensure students receive services in accordance with their IEPs, including required frequency, duration, location, accommodations, modifications, and related services.
- Assist with internal compliance reviews, state monitoring, audits, corrective action plans, and requests for EC documentation.
- Maintain accurate compliance data and provide regular reports to the Director of Exceptional Children and district leadership.
- Immediately communicate significant compliance concerns, missed services, overdue timelines, or other areas of risk to the Director of Exceptional Children.
IEP and ECATS Support
- Provide ongoing technical assistance to EC teachers, case managers, related service providers, and school leaders regarding ECATS and required EC processes.
- Review draft and finalized IEP documents for accuracy, completeness, alignment, and procedural compliance.
- Support staff in developing legally compliant and educationally meaningful present levels, annual goals, accommodations, service plans, and progress-monitoring procedures.
- Verify that student demographic, eligibility, placement, service, and reporting information is accurately entered in ECATS.
- Support the transfer and enrollment process for students with disabilities, including obtaining and reviewing records and coordinating comparable services.
- Assist with the correction of ECATS errors and discrepancies in collaboration with appropriate staff.
- Ensure EC records are organized, complete, confidential, and maintained in accordance with applicable record-retention requirements.
Meeting and Case Management Support
- Support or facilitate IEP Team meetings when assigned.
- Assist case managers with meeting preparation, documentation, parent communication, and required follow-up activities.
- Monitor caseload assignments and assist the Director of Exceptional Children in identifying staffing, scheduling, and service-delivery concerns.
- Support the coordination of evaluations, reevaluations, related services, and contracted services.
- Help ensure that parents receive required notices and documents within established timelines and in an accessible language or format when needed.
- Collaborate with school teams to address complex cases and resolve concerns before they become compliance violations.
Training and Staff Development
- Provide training, coaching, and technical assistance regarding IEP development, ECATS procedures, progress monitoring, service documentation, confidentiality, procedural safeguards, and compliance timelines.
- Develop and maintain checklists, templates, calendars, guidance documents, and other tools that promote consistent EC practices.
- Support the onboarding and development of new EC teachers, related service providers, instructional assistants, and other staff members who serve students with disabilities.
- Identify patterns in compliance data and recommend professional learning or corrective supports.
- Remain current on changes to federal and state EC laws, policies, procedures, guidance, and reporting requirements.
Collaboration and Communication
- Collaborate with the Director of Exceptional Children, school administrators, teachers, service providers, school psychologists, counselors, social workers, families, and other stakeholders.
- Participate in EC department meetings, compliance reviews, problem-solving meetings, and leadership meetings as requested.
- Communicate clearly, professionally, and promptly with staff and families.
- Protect the confidentiality of student and personnel information in accordance with FERPA and all applicable laws and SCCS policies.
- Demonstrate sound professional judgment when handling sensitive student, family, and compliance matters.
- Perform other duties related to EC programming and compliance as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- Current or eligible North Carolina educator license in Exceptional Children or a closely related area.
- Minimum of three years of successful experience in special education.
- Working knowledge of IDEA, North Carolina EC policies, IEP procedures, eligibility requirements, evaluation timelines, and procedural safeguards.
- Experience developing, reviewing, or implementing IEPs.
- Experience using ECATS or a comparable special education data-management system.
- Strong organizational, analytical, written communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines and maintain accurate, confidential records.
- Ability to work effectively with staff, families, school leaders, and external partners.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in special education, educational leadership, school administration, or a related field.
- North Carolina certification in special education, school administration, curriculum and instruction, or a related area.
- Five or more years of experience in special education.
- Previous experience as an EC compliance coordinator, EC department chair, lead EC teacher, case manager, or EC administrator.
- Experience conducting compliance audits or supporting state monitoring and corrective action processes.
- Experience providing professional development, coaching, or technical assistance to EC staff.
- Experience working in a K-12 charter school or public-school setting.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strong knowledge of special education law and compliant IEP practices.
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- The ability to interpret data, identify compliance risks, and develop practical solutions.
- The ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and meet firm deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills.
- The ability to provide clear, constructive feedback while maintaining positive professional relationships.
- Commitment to educational equity and high expectations for students with disabilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, student information systems, and electronic recordkeeping platforms.
- The ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
Physical and Work Requirements
- Ability to work in a school and office environment and travel between SCCS campuses as needed.
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and use standard office equipment.
- Ability to attend meetings, review electronic and paper records, and communicate effectively in person and electronically.
- Occasional evening work may be required for meetings, training, or school events.
Performance Expectations
The EC Compliance Coordinator will be evaluated based on:
- Timely completion of required EC processes and documentation.
- Accuracy and completeness of ECATS and student records.
- Reduction in overdue, incomplete, or noncompliant EC documentation.
- Effective monitoring of IEP implementation and service delivery.
- Quality and responsiveness of support provided to staff and school leaders.
- Successful preparation for audits, monitoring visits, and compliance reviews.
- Professional communication, collaboration, confidentiality, and reliability.
- Contribution to SCCS's goal of maintaining 100% EC compliance while improving outcomes for students with disabilities.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Sugar Creek Charter School is an equal opportunity employer. SCCS does not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.