What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Early Childhood Special Education (Ages 3-5) position at Portland Public Schools, Maine?
- Oversee Child Find, referral, evaluation, eligibility determination, placement, and IEP implementation for children ages 3-5 across all delivery models, ensuring compliance with IDEA Part B (619), MUSER, and PPS policies.
- Ensure IEPs are timely, legally compliant, and developmentally appropriate, with measurable goals aligned to early childhood developmental domains.
- Oversee the collection, monitoring, and reporting of required special education data and records, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and use for continuous improvement.
- Monitor implementation of Section 504 plans for preschool-aged children, as applicable.
- Establish consistent procedures for supporting multilingual learners and ensuring culturally and linguistically responsive evaluation and service delivery in collaboration with ESOL Educators and PPS's Multilingual/Multicultural Department. .
- Develop, monitor and evaluate the quality and fidelity of specialized instruction and related services, ensuring implementation of evidence-based practices aligned to early childhood development across PPS operated and community-based partner settings.
- Collaborate with and oversee specialized early childhood programs to ensure appropriate supports for children with complex intellectual, functional, communication, social-emotional, or behavioral needs in the least restrictive environment.
- Develop and coordinate school-based early childhood special education problem-solving and communication structures and Student Support Team processes to promote early intervention and reduce unnecessary referrals to special education.
- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of PPS's Early Childhood Special Education system during and beyond the CDS-to-PPS FAPE transition.
- Provide leadership and oversight of Early Childhood Special Education services across PPS-operated preschool programs and community-based partner programs participating in the mixed delivery system.
- Strengthen Child Find systems and referral pathways across early childhood settings to ensure timely identification and evaluation of children suspected of having disabilities.
- Develop and implement consistent protocols for supporting multilingual learners and children with high-risk or complex behavioral needs.
- Ensure seamless transitions from Part C to Part B services, into preschool programming, and from preschool to kindergarten.
- Develop systems to monitor and address attendance, engagement, and participation barriers for preschool-aged children and families.
- Maintain a regular presence across PPS-operated and community-based early childhood sites to build relationships, support implementation, and ensure program quality.
- Supervise and support Early Childhood Service Coordinator(s), Case Manager(s), Itinerant Special Education Teachers, and related service providers.
- Provide professional development and technical assistance to administrators, educators, coordinators, and related service providers on Early Childhood Special Education practices, compliance requirements, inclusive teaching strategies, differentiated instruction, and developmentally appropriate practice.
- Provide training and coaching on effective and compliant IEP meeting facilitation, ensuring meaningful family participation and clear, collaborative decision-making processes.
- Support educators' understanding of disabilities, universal design for learning principles, and approaches to meet the needs of diverse learners in inclusive preschool settings.
- Partner with families and community-based providers to ensure meaningful family engagement, coordinated service delivery, and shared accountability for child outcomes.
- Monitor staffing, budgetary, and resource allocation to support Early Childhood Special Education services across the mixed delivery system.
- Assess and build district capacity in related services and behavioral health supports to meet the needs of preschool-aged children.
- Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop and coordinate behavioral health supports, including workforce capacity-building within early childhood settings.
- Inform long-term planning and infrastructure development to sustain a high-quality Early Childhood Special Education system.
- Knowledge of IDEA Part B (619), MUSER, and inclusive early childhood special education service delivery models
- Demonstrated 3-5 years of management experience, including in systems development, formal supervisory responsibilities, program implementation, cross-agency collaboration, and change management
- Teaching and/or leadership experience in early childhood special education or a closely related field
- [Preferred] At least three (3) years of experience teaching or supporting students in early childhood special education
- [Preferred] Experience working within early intervention, preschool, or mixed delivery early childhood systems
- [Preferred] Experience supporting children with significant or complex needs (intellectual, functional, communication, social-emotional, or behavioral)
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Maine State Administrator Certificate with one of the following endorsements:
- Director of Special Ed, PK-12 (030)
- Assistant Director of Special Ed, PK-12 (035)
- Maine State fingerprint (CHRC) authorization (more info)
- Schedule: Full year
- Assignment: Full time, 1.0 FTE
- Contract: Non-bargaining
- Salary: Salary established by non-bargaining agreement (all agreements listed here)
- Benefits: Eligible for benefits as outlined here
JobID: 5385
Position Type:
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION/DIR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION/DIR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Date Posted:
4/11/2026
4/11/2026
Location:
Central Office
Central Office
Date Available:
ASAP
ASAP
Closing Date:
Open until filled
Open until filled
TITLE: Director of Early Childhood Special Education (Ages 3-5)
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Director of Early Childhood Special Education provides district wide leadership for the implementation and continuous improvement of special education services for children ages 3-5 across Portland Public Schools (PPS) and the district's mixed-delivery early childhood network.
As PPS assumes responsibility for providing Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for children ages 3-5 through a phased transition from Child Development Services (CDS), this position plays a critical role in leading a cohesive, developmentally appropriate Early Childhood Special Education system. The Director informs and leads operation of policies, procedures, service delivery models, and cross-system partnerships across PPS-operated public pre-K classrooms and in community-based partner settings (e.g., Head Start, child care centers, family child care programs).
The Director ensures that young children with disabilities receive high-quality, developmentally appropriate services aligned with IDEA Part B (619) and Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (MUSER), while expanding inclusive preschool opportunities and promoting equitable access to services across all settings.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Evaluation, Compliance & Service Delivery
Program Design & Inclusive Practices
System Leadership & Infrastructure Development
Professional Learning, Coaching & Cross-System Collaboration
Resource & Program Management
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:
CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:
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Portland Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.