Education Programs Coordinator II - Universal PreK

at State of Vermont in Montpelier, Vermont, United States

Job Description

The Early Education Division at the Agency of Education (AOE) is seeking an Education Programs Coordinator II to serve as a subject matter expert and statewide leader for Vermont's Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) systems under Act 166. The person in this role is responsible for analysis, planning, and coordination of multiple regulatory frameworks, including Act 166, State Board of Education Rule Series 2600 (Prekindergarten Education), the Agency of Education's Education Quality Standards, and the Agency of Human Services Child Development Division Child Care Licensing Regulations. Collaboration with other state organizations, including the Child Development Division and Building Bright Futures, is a key part of this role. The goal is to ensure coherence across systems while maintaining compliance with state statute and advancing a high-quality, equitable prekindergarten system.

Responsibilities include:

• Program Leadership and Administration
  
  • Serve as the statewide program expert for Vermont's UPK system, managing and advancing initiatives that support access to high-quality prekindergarten education aligned with the Vermont Early Learning Standards. 
  • Provide support in the implementation and continuous improvement of UPK systems.
• Program Approval and Compliance Oversight
  
  • Oversee and approve all initial and renewal UPK applications, ensuring compliance with State Board rules and educator licensing requirements. 
  • Verify application components across multiple data systems and regulatory requirements, including educator licensure, program standards, and required assurances. 
  • Administer approval determinations for prequalified UPK programs. 
• Monitoring and Accountability (ACIS)
  
  • Investigate compliance issues, issue corrective actions, and, when necessary, revoke program approval status in accordance with regulatory requirements. 
  • Provide technical assistance and guidance to programs, school districts, and families to support compliance and continuous improvement. 
  • Visit private and public prekindergarten programs to identify model programs.
• Educator Licensing and Workforce Support
  
  • Administer and approve provisional licensure pathways for educators in private UPK programs, in coordination with educator licensing authorities. 
  • Support workforce stability and advancement by facilitating pathways to licensure and maintaining compliance with educator requirements. 
• Technical Assistance, Guidance, and Professional Learning
  
  • Develop and disseminate technical guidance, policy documents, and compliance resources for educators, administrators, and programs. 
  • Design and deliver professional learning opportunities to support system-wide understanding of requirements and evidence-based practices. 
• Data Analysis and Reporting
  
  • Analyze and interpret state and national data related to prekindergarten access, quality, and outcomes. 
  • Contribute to required legislative reports, including Vermont's annual UPK report. 
  • Review and apply findings from national reports (e.g., NIEER) to inform state policy and program improvements. 
  • Environmental Factors

    Work is generally performed in a standard office setting, but significant travel may be anticipated for which private means of transportation must be available. Some work outside of normal work schedule may be required. There may be considerable interaction with a variety of publics and strong differences of opinion may be encountered.