Job Location: This position will be located at 205 Jefferson St., Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Why you’ll love this position: The goal of the Office of Childhood is to ensure Missouri’s children can have success at every stage and to do so, quality is essential. People who educate and care for children need programs that support their efforts to increase quality and provide children with the best opportunities for success. Quality Programs focuses on efforts to equip child care professionals with essential supports to help children thrive.
- Maintain compliance with statutes, rules, regulations, and policies relating to early learning programs, including preschool and Early Childhood Special Education.
- Oversee the development of written guidance, alignments, procedures, and other materials pertinent to early learning programs, Missouri Early Learning Standards, early childhood curriculum, school readiness, and kindergarten entry activities.
- Oversee funding opportunities for early learning programs in accordance with federal and state rules for preschool programs in school districts.
- Participate as a team member for the Quality Assurance Report (QAR) for early learning programs.
- Serve as an office representative on required Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B/619 meetings.
- Demonstrate regular, reliable, and engaged attendance.
- Maintain regular communications with Part B compliance staff in the DESE Office of Special Education and Special Education finance staff in the DESE Division of Administrative and Financial Services.
- Assist DESE staff with reviewing and providing input on required early learning and early childhood special education federal reports.
- Present early learning/early childhood special education/preschool information at local and/or state meetings.
- Attend federal, state, and regional meetings pertaining to early learning programs.
Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in early childhood, education, communications, human development, family studies, or other related area with experience in special education.
OR - Four or more years of professional experience in special education, and possession of a high school diploma or high school equivalency.
Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant. The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here .