Special Education Data & Accountability Specialist (00194)

This first review of applications will be April 8, 2026. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor's name/phone number for each position.

For a complete job description, please email opi.careers@mt.gov

To be considered for this position, you must reside in Montana.

Why you would enjoy working here; Office of Public Instruction employees are a passionate group of professionals dedicated to leading and supporting our education system. We house a diverse collection of experiences with the 200 unique individuals we employ. Our specialists further OPI's purpose with applicable knowledge in education, health, research and analysis, nutrition, finance, administration, human resources, licensing and regulation, information technology, and many others. We are proud to serve 149,000 students pre-K to grade 12, their parents and guardians, 400 school districts, 16,000 educational professionals, and 3,000 adult learners.

Benefits of working for OPI:

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public service loan forgiveness-Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF.

Job Overview: This position holds responsibility for implementing policies and standards of the Special Education Unit by ensuring all state and federal reporting requirements for special education are fully addressed. The multiple and complex data collection and reporting systems across special education are comprehensive and interactive. The special education records and information management system is fully integrated into the Student Information System (SIS); and the Student Information System incorporates all special education's child count, procedural compliance and annual performance and state performance plan reporting requirements necessary to comply with the U.S. Department of Education's requirements. This position also requires collaboration with the Data Operations team. This includes data mapping; timely, valid, and reliable data collection; and root cause analysis to identify areas of improvement to improve student outcomes.

The special education collection and reporting systems serve as the Special Education Unit's accountability for special education and related services provided to more than 21,000 students with disabilities statewide. The special education data systems consist of multiple special education records for each student with disabilities served by the public school and enrolled in public or private schools. The special education data systems must be designed in such a manner that each and all individual student records fully articulate with one another, while at the same time provide for the collection and reporting of all information needed for procedural compliance monitoring, the State Performance Plan (SPP), Annual Performance Report (APR), EDFacts reporting in addition to other data required by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

• Knowledge and skills in data management, computer software development.
• Ability to use advanced problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of arithmetic, statistics, and analysis.
• Working knowledge of the logic and creation of Structured Query Language (SQL).
• Knowledge and skill in a variety of databases and spreadsheet operations for research, data analysis and reporting, including the use of complex queries.
• Knowledge of the theories, principles, and techniques of research, planning and organization, data collection strategies and procedures and data collection instruments.
• Ability to self-motivate and seek out creative solutions.
• Ability to plan and direct a data collection and reporting system.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, superiors, and subordinates.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• A bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, or a related field.
• At least three years of demonstrated experience in; data administration, requirements analysis, metadata development and/or project analysis.
• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Does this sound like you?

Please tell us how and why by submitting your resume online, including any veterans or disability preference documentation. When submitting the required documents, you must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process.

OPI is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

This position is in the PERS retirement system.