TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 3927900

DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, M-4         

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

            The one position in this class, under the general supervision of the Department of Correctional Services Deputy Commissioner for Program Services, is responsible for the oversight of all academic and vocational education programs administered by the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS).             

The incumbent develops academic and vocational education program policies; develops and monitors the budget for all facility academic and vocational programs; plans, directs and evaluates the activities of academic and vocational facility staff; develops, supervises and directs existing and new academic and vocational programs; directs academic and vocational education program monitoring and evaluation policies and procedures; coordinates the operation of the academic and vocational programs with other operational units within DOCS; ensures that academic and vocational programs comply with Federal and State laws and regulations, particularly in relation to incarcerated minors; and, directs and supervises the program services areas of inmate payroll assignments and media review.

This position is classified in the central office of the DOCS.  Incumbents at DOCS assist in the total care and confinement of inmates sentenced to the custody of the Department, and as such perform various duties and functions in conjunction with the overall operation of a facility and/or location to which they are assigned.

RELATED CLASSES

            Director Correctional Guidance is a one position class located in the Main Office of DOCS and is responsible for the overall direction of the programs of guidance services at facilities of the Department.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Develop academic and vocational education program policies.

• Under the direction and guidance of the Deputy Commissioner for Program Services, develop program policies and procedures for the operation of all facility academic and vocational education programs.
• Ensure that policies and procedures are in compliance with applicable Federal and State statutes relative to education of inmates, especially for inmates under the age of 21.
• Direct the development and ongoing review of appropriate Department directives, academic and vocational supervisory manuals and teacher manuals to ensure that programs operate appropriately.
• Provide guidance and direction to facility Superintendents relative to academic and vocational education program policies.

Develop and monitor the budget for all facility academic and vocational programs.

• Develop material and supply budgets for each facilitys academic and vocational programs.
• Develop and implement the non-employee funding budgets for each facility. Part-time education teachers and Supervisors of Correctional Facility Volunteer Tutors are included in this funding.
• Develop academic and vocational summer school budget for each facility.
• Oversee the monitoring of facility expenditures for academic and vocational materials and supplies, equipment and contractual services.
• Direct the application for, the facility allocation, and expenditure of, Federal education funds from Title I, Special Education, School Nutrition and Drug-Free Schools.

Plan, direct and evaluate the activities of academic and vocational facility staff.

• Work with main office Personnel and Budget staff to develop and/or revise academic and vocational staffing patterns for all facilities.
• Monitor the hiring of academic and vocational staff, ensuring that all requirements are met.
• Monitor the activities of facility academic and vocational staff to ensure consistency and compliance with appropriate policies and procedures.
• Ensure that facility academic and vocational staff receive appropriate pre-service and in-service training and support.

Develop, supervise and direct existing and new academic and vocational programs.

• Through extensive research, identify the need for new academic and vocational programs; develop staffing and budgetary requirements and works with Personnel and Budget staff to coordinate implementation.
• Direct the integration of new instructional technologies and techniques within the academic and vocational programs.
• On an ongoing basis, evaluate the needs of the inmate population for modified educational programming.  Adjust staffing to meet these needs.
• Develop and supervise a system for ensuring that vocational training programs prepare inmate students for employment in new and emerging employment areas.

Direct academic and vocational education program monitoring and evaluation policies and procedures.

• Develop statewide standards of operation for the academic and vocational programs based on federal and State educational and correctional guidelines and requirements.
• Direct the frequent formal and informal monitoring of all academic and vocational programs by Central Office staff to ensure compliance with standards.
• Direct a comprehensive data collection process to monitor inmate progress in academic and vocational programs, including: enrollment, attendance, achievement benchmarks in academic programs, job titles in vocational training and other variables that indicate trends and outcomes.
• Direct the completion of a comprehensive annual report detailing the status of each facilitys academic and vocational programs.
• Provide requested data relative to the academic and vocational programs to departmental units and outside organizations, emphasizing trends and outcomes. Such organizations and units may include: the Division of the Budget, State Education Department, Department of Labor and Department of Civil Service, as well as FOIL requests.

Coordinate the operation of the academic and vocational programs with other operational units within the Department.

• Working with staff responsible for specialized facilities or facility units, ensure that appropriate academic and vocational programs are provided.
• Work with Personnel and Budget staff to ensure adequate staffing and funding for academic and vocational programs.
• Work with Counsels Office staff to ensure all legal requirements are met relative to educational programming, especially as it relates to inmates under the age of 21.
• Work with Facilities Planning personnel to ensure that space utilized for academic and vocational programs meets applicable codes and education guidelines.
• Work with the Director of IT in integrating technologies within the education program and meeting the data collection and management needs of the program.

Ensure that academic and vocational programs comply with Federal and State laws and regulations, particularly in relation to inmates under the age of 21.

• Responsible for reviewing all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations relative to providing appropriate educational programs for all inmates under the age of 21.
• Working with Classification and Movement, ensure that all inmates under 21 years of age are placed in facilities which provide appropriate programs.
• Provide direction and guidance to facility Superintendents relative to compliance with laws, regulations and ACA Accreditation standards.
• Direct and supervise coordination with a wide variety of State Education Department units, such as: Special Education, Title I, School Nutrition, Drug Free Schools, Bilingual Education, Vocational Education and Adult and Continuing Education.

Direct and supervise the program service areas of inmate payroll assignments and media review.

• Develop appropriate program policies and procedures relative to inmate pay assignments.
• Monitor facility inmate assignments and provide technical assistance to facility staff as needed.
• Provide guidance to Superintendents relative to inmate assignments and pay issues.
• Supervise the Central Office and Facility Media Review policies and procedures to ensure compliance with judicial decisions and Departmental directives.
• Supervise, monitor and evaluate the performance of all staff assigned to the Correctional Education Programs Unit in Central Office.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Promotion:  Three years of permanent competitive experience in the Department of Correctional Services, including one year of permanent competitive experience in a Correctional Program Services title allocated to Grade 23, or higher, such as Correctional Facility Program Administrator, Assistant Director for Correctional Academic Education or Assistant Director for Correctional Vocational Education; or five years of permanent competitive experience in a Correctional Program Services title, including three years of permanent competitive experience in a Correctional Program Services title allocated to Grade 19 or higher.

Open Competitive:  A Masters Degree in Education, School Administration or closely related field, plus five years of experience in school administration, including at least two developing curricula or programs (academic and/or vocational); or a Doctorate in Education, School Administration or closely related field, plus one year of experience in school administration (academic/vocational). Candidates with a proven track record in research of educational needs of special populations (urban, forensic, drop-out, poor or underprivileged, adult, special education, etc.) may be given preference for appointment.

Date:  7/09

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.