Introduction
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is accepting applications for an Associate Education Consultant to serve as the CSDE liaison for the Open Choice program in the Greater Hartford Region and statewide through the Office of Strategic Planning and Partnership (OSPP) in Hartford.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
- Full Time, 35 hours per week.
- Monday through Friday.
- First Shift
- Occasional extended and weekend hours for recruitment events during high demand periods.
- Location: 450 Columbus Boulevard in Hartford, CT.
The Associate Education Consultant position fills a critical responsibility in the school choice system by supporting implementation of key terms of the final agreement in the Sheff v. O’Neill litigation, known as the Comprehensive School Choice Plan (CCP), and ensuring participating local school districts receive consistent, specialized expertise to address the academic and social-emotional needs of diverse student populations.
The position will support districts with:
- Developing and implementing CCP-aligned outreach, enrollment, and capacity-building strategies;
- Ensuring compliance with CCP requirements; and
- Strengthening statewide efforts to expand equitable access and participation in the Open Choice program and other interdistrict school choice options.
Through this work, the position helps promote integrated educational opportunities, enhance program visibility, and support long-term planning necessary to increase student success and foster positive school climates.
Position duties will include:
- Interpreting and implementing Open Choice and other school choice legislation, policies, and CCP requirements, and providing guidance to school and district administrators.
- Coordinating Open Choice initiatives among Open Choice administrators and Open Choice districts to support enrollment, grant management, program implementation, and CCP-aligned outreach and engagement.
- Monitoring Open Choice enrollment for trends, compliance with court orders and stipulations, and alignment with CCP goals for access, participation, and diversity.
- Providing technical assistance to districts on program implementation, grant utilization, family engagement, and strategies to promote equitable participation and positive school climate in interdistrict school choice opportunities.
- Overseeing school choice grants that support academic, social-emotional, and programmatic needs of Connecticut students, ensuring alignment with CCP expectations and state laws.
- Collaborating with districts and state agencies on construction and capacity initiatives that expand access to Open Choice opportunities and meet regional needs identified through the CCP.
- Supporting school leaders in improving school climate, and fostering supportive learning environments through interdistrict opportunities.
- Conducting stakeholder outreach, including families, community partners, and local school districts, to increase awareness of and participation in Open Choice opportunities and other interdistrict school choice options.
- Supporting development and implementation of academic, enrichment, and summer programming initiatives that enhance educational opprotunity and align with CCP goals.
- Providing CCP-aligned oversight and support for district-level planning, implementation monitoring, and reporting requirements.
- Analyzing data related to enrollment, capacity, transportation, and student support to inform planning, compliance, and program improvement.
The ideal candidate possesses excellent communication and project management skills, has experience interpreting and applying state and federal education laws, and has extensive experience in grant management.
ABOUT US
CSDE is the administrative arm of the Connecticut State Board of Education and operates the OSPP as the central office responsible for school choice programs in the Greater Hartford Region and statewide.
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Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
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BEFORE YOU APPLY:
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay Connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Brittney Woodley at brittney.woodley@ct.gov. Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Departments of Aging and Disability Services, Education, and the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System assists in planning and executing programs of extensive difficulty and scope for the improvement of education in the state.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Assists a Bureau Chief or Education Consultant in supervising various educational programs and services offered by the state;
- Assists in the development and administration of certain programs of major importance or may develop and administer other programs within the framework of bureau policy;
- Provides professional leadership and guidance to school authorities, professional organizations, students and various community groups and individuals;
- May assist in directing the routine functioning of the bureau;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of the philosophy and methods of education with particular reference to the field concerned;
- Teaching skill;
- Ability to
- prepare reports;
- deal effectively with others.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
An earned advanced degree and five (5) years of professional experience OR in lieu thereof an equivalent combination of experience and training as approved by the appropriate Board and/or appointing authority.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with school choice or interdistrict programs for K-12.
- Experience managing educational grants and program requirements.
- Experience analyzing data sets in Excel and Access for reporting compliance.
- Experience implementing school desegregation plans or statewide school choice initiatives.
- Experience evaluating educational programs for Academic Accountability and School Climate.
- Experience interpreting and implementing education legislation.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents in this class in certain positions may be required to possess an appropriate certificate issued by State Board of Education.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.