Occ. Code 3927900

DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, M-4

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

          The Director of Correctional Education Programs is responsible for the oversight of all academic and vocational education programs administered by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). 

This position is classified in the central office of DOCCS.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

          DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS: one position class; under the general supervision of the Deputy Commissioner for Program Services, 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 DOCCS; 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 offender payroll assignments and media review.

RELATED CLASSES

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

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Develops academic and vocational education program policies.

• Under the direction and guidance of the Deputy Commissioner for Program Services, develops program policies and procedures for the operation of all facility academic and vocational education programs.

• Ensures that policies and procedures are in compliance with applicable Federal and State statutes relative to education of offenders, especially for offenders under the age of 21.

• Directs the development and ongoing review of appropriate Department directives, academic and vocational supervisory manuals and teacher manuals to ensure that programs operate appropriately.

• Provides guidance and direction to facility Superintendents relative to academic and vocational education program policies.

Develops and monitors the budget for all facility academic and vocational programs.

• Develops material and supply budgets for each facilitys academic and vocational programs.

• Develops and implements the non-employee funding budgets for each facility. Part-time education teachers and Supervisors of Correctional Facility Volunteer Tutors are included in this funding.

• Develops academic and vocational summer school budget for each facility.

• Oversees the monitoring of facility expenditures for academic and vocational materials and supplies, equipment and contractual services.

• Directs the application for, the facility allocation, and expenditure of, Federal education funds from Title I, Special Education, School Nutrition and Drug-Free Schools.

Plans, directs and evaluates the activities of academic and vocational facility staff.

• Works with main office Personnel and Budget staff to develop and/or revise academic and vocational staffing patterns for all facilities.

• Monitors the hiring of academic and vocational staff to ensure that all requirements are met.

• Monitors the activities of facility academic and vocational staff to ensure consistency and compliance with appropriate policies and procedures.

• Ensures that facility academic and vocational staff receive appropriate pre-service and in-service training and support.

Develops, supervises and directs existing and new academic and vocational programs.

• Through extensive research, identifies the need for new academic and vocational programs; develops staffing and budgetary requirements and works with Personnel and Budget staff to coordinate implementation.

• Directs the integration of new instructional technologies and techniques within the academic and vocational programs.

• On an ongoing basis, evaluates the needs of the offender population for modified educational programming.  Adjusts staffing to meet these needs.

• Develops and supervises a system for ensuring that vocational training programs prepare offender students for employment in new and emerging employment areas.

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

• Develops statewide standards of operation for the academic and vocational programs based on federal and State educational and correctional guidelines and requirements.

• Directs the frequent formal and informal monitoring of all academic and vocational programs by Central Office staff to ensure compliance with standards.

• Directs a comprehensive data collection process to monitor offender 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.

• Directs the completion of a comprehensive annual report detailing the status of each facilitys academic and vocational programs.

• Provides 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.

Coordinates 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, ensures that appropriate academic and vocational programs are provided.

• Works with Personnel and Budget staff to ensure adequate staffing and funding for academic and vocational programs.

• Works with Counsels Office staff to ensure all legal requirements are met relative to educational programming, especially as it relates to offenders under the age of 21.

• Works with Facilities Planning personnel to ensure that space utilized for academic and vocational programs meets applicable codes and education guidelines.

• Works with the Director of IT in integrating technologies within the education program and meeting the data collection and management needs of the program.

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

• Responsible for reviewing all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations relative to providing appropriate educational programs for all offenders under the age of 21.

• Working with Classification and Movement, ensures that all offenders under 21 years of age are placed in facilities which provide appropriate programs.

• Provides direction and guidance to facility Superintendents relative to compliance with laws, regulations and ACA Accreditation standards.

• Directs and supervises 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.

Directs and supervises the program service areas of offender payroll assignments and media review.

• Develops appropriate program policies and procedures relative to offender pay assignments.

• Monitors facility offender assignments and provides technical assistance to facility staff as needed.

• Provides guidance to Superintendents relative to offender assignments and pay issues.

• Supervises the Central Office and Facility Media Review policies and procedures to ensure compliance with judicial decisions and Departmental directives.

• Supervises, monitors and evaluates 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 Corrections and Community Supervision, 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.

Non-competitive: 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:  7/18

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.