Organization: Charter Schools Development Center
Job Title: Legal and Legislative Associate
Location: Sacramento

Posted: 11/7/07

Job Description:

The Charter Schools Development Center provides experienced and expert technical assistance and resources to charter school developers, operators, charter-granting agencies, and policymakers in California, Oregon, nationally, and internationally.

This is an at-will, exempt, full-time, benefited position. Continued employment in this position is dependent upon funding and the mutual consent of the Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC) and the employee, and either CSDC or the employee can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause.

Rate of Pay: Salary commensurate with experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required: Master’s, J.D., or other graduate degree in Law, Policy, Education, or a related field, or equivalent experience. Demonstrated experience working in and/or providing technical assistance to autonomously managed public schools, school development groups, or equivalent experience. Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: education law and/or policy, school governance, personnel, school facilities, student assessment and educational program development, special education, school finance, and other operations. Demonstrated experience researching, writing, and editing news articles, research papers, reports, policy papers, or other documents. Excellent command of the English language, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Demonstrated skill in the use of computer applications. Demonstrated ability to work independently with little direction and the ability to coordinate many different tasks simultaneously, determine the relative importance of each, set deadlines and complete projects accordingly. Must be detail oriented and have good organizational and client management skills.

Preferred, but not required: Experience with charter schools, school districts, and county offices of education, or other school-based practice or research in the field of education strongly preferred. Familiarity with California charter school policy and legislation, including legislative and regulatory matters governing public schools and the state budget process.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under general direction from the Co-Directors of CSDC, this position assists CSDC with technical questions and research addressing legal and legislative issues and performs general writing, research, and technical assistance projects in support of CSDC. Specific duties include:

1. Attend appropriate legislative, regulatory, and other public meetings. Coordinate with other CSDC staff to ensure they are updated on key legislative and regulatory activities and issues in their “beat” areas.
2. Prepare and present key workshops on topics including, but not limited to, legal issues, charter school leadership updates, governance, facilities, personnel, special education, student and parent issues, and independent study/non-site based charter school compliance. Workshops to be presented as part of CSDC’s monthly workshop calendar, at the Charter School Leadership Institute, and Charter School Leadership Summit.
3. Facilitate or assist with individualized charter school governing board trainings and other appropriate school trainings.
4. Develop new and update existing publications, such as CSDC’s Sample Governing Board Policies and other appropriate publications.
5. Serve as CSDC’s lead investigator on assigned “beat” topics by continuously monitoring and investigating appropriate and relevant information sources to stay on “the cutting edge” in these topic areas.
6. Clearly and concisely communicate assigned “beat” information in a topical fashion by writing regular and timely articles for Charter Currents, postings for CDSC’s web site and e-mail communications, etc. Written materials are subject to editing and final approval of the Co-Directors as appropriate. Assist with editing of others’ work as assigned.
7. Develop at minimum a fundamental understanding of all of the following areas: charter school development, education law, special education, governance, finance, standards and assessment, accountability, personnel, facilities, school operations, student and parent issues, independent study/non-site-based compliance.
8. In-state and national travel to attend and present at relevant workshops, conferences, and meetings, and meet with clients. Assist, as assigned, with transportation, set-up, audio visual, and related workshop and conference support activities.
9. Assist in strategic planning as requested and make recommendations on policies/procedures affecting CSDC.
10. As assigned, assist in grant writing and other fundraising efforts for CSDC.
11. Coordinate, manage, and/or assist with other projects as assigned.
12. Perform administrative tasks in support of work tasks as assigned, including answering phones, making travel arrangements, photocopying, faxing, etc. Occasional moderate lifting.
13. Perform other duties as assigned.

TO APPLY:

Please email the following application documents to Stephanie Schwuchow at stephanie@chartercenter.org. Type “Legal and Legislative Associate” in the subject line.

1) Resume
2) Cover letter of interest and relevant experience, addressing the following:

• Why are you interested in this position and our organization?
• What are the greatest strengths you can bring to this position?
• In looking at the position description, in what areas would you want further training and development?

3) Recent salary history (past 5 years)
4) Contact information for 3 professional references (at least 2 must be previous or current managers/supervisors)

Incomplete application packages will not be reviewed.