New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Examinations Open to All Qualified Individuals

Assistant/Associate in Education of Children with Disabilities

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,302 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $651 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before September 29, 2007, you must have:

1. a master's degree in special education, reading education, elementary or secondary education, psychology, school psychology, school counseling, guidance and counseling, communications disorders, or speech pathology; AND
2. New York State permanent certification as a teacher of special education; a teacher of the deaf and hearing impaired, blind or partially sighted; or speech and hearing handicapped; or as a school psychologist; or New York State licensure as a speech/language pathologist; AND
3. professional experience in special education service delivery, administration of special education programs, evaluation for special education eligibility, teaching children with disabilities, or designing and/or developing special education programs as follows:

For Number 24-791: three years of experience.

For Number 24-792: five years of experience.

Notes

1. Your degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. You must pay the required evaluation fee.
2. A promotion examination is also being held for Associate in Education of Children with Disabilities. If you are eligible for appointment from a promotion list, you may not be appointed in your own agency from the list resulting from this examination open to the public.
3. Although a promotion examination is being held, it is expected that appointments will be made as a result of these examinations open to the public.
4. You may file for these examinations by completing one OC-APP application form or applying on the Internet. Unless you are eligible for a fee waiver, the indicated processing fee must be submitted for each examination listed on your application.
5. Employment as an Assistant or Associate in Education of Children with Disabilities is dependent on continued possession of certification/licensure as described in the minimum qualifications as listed above. Loss of certification/licensure will result in removal from employment.
6. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
7. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the New York State Education Department. There are three vacant Assistant in Education of Children with Disabilities positions and 24 vacant Associate in Education of Children with Disabilities positions.

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Duties

As an Assistant in Education of Children with Disabilities, you would be involved in development of policy and proposed regulations, training, research, data analysis, and preparation of informational materials in the area of special education. You might also provide technical assistance and consultative services to school administrators, educators, parents, and students as well as assist other staff in monitoring programs that provide special education services.

As an Associate in Education of Children with Disabilities, you would perform many of the same duties as the Assistant but at a higher level and you may supervise. You would be involved in development of policy and proposed regulations, training, research, data analysis, and preparation of informational materials in the area of special education. You would provide technical assistance and consultative services to school administrators, educators, parents, and students. If assigned to a Regional Office, you would be responsible for both quality assurance reviews and program improvement activities in relation to educational programs for students with disabilities.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Characteristics and problems of children with physical, mental and emotional disabilities - These questions test for knowledge and understanding of children and the disabling conditions which may affect them. Questions may cover such topics as: child development; causes, symptoms, effects, and prognoses of disabling conditions in children; and psychological aspects of childhood.
2. Educating and interacting with the public - These questions test for a knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individual citizens and/or community groups, to educate or inform them about topics of concern, to publicize or clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with others in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.
3. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
4. Understanding and interpreting written material relating to services for children with handicapping conditions - These questions are designed to test for the ability to read, understand, interpret and apply guidelines, rules and regulations related to services for children with handicapping conditions. You will be provided with reading passages containing guidelines, regulations, laws, or operating principles and answer questions based on those passages.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at 518-457-8480.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], no later than two weeks before the test date, to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center.

S4/TB1 LSS-dmb
Issued: 7/13/07

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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