State Testing Specialist

Job Description

State Testing Specialist

Description

At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.

Position Summary :

The State Testing Specialist will serve as the OBL main point of contact managing and supporting all key operational areas of high stakes state testing for a portfolio of Partner Schools and Programs in order to guide and train stakeholders in understanding and meeting testing requirements. The State Testing Specialist will collaborate and liaise with internal and external stakeholders to drive testing logistics and ensure state-specific accountability compliance and effective online testing solutions.

Primary Responsibilities :

● Support the coordination of the state standardized testing process to meet state and federal guidelines and maximize student participation rates

● Support State Testing Coordinators with testing tasks, as needed.

● Conduct research and stay current on the state’s accountability system and state-mandated assessment policies, procedures, and measure the impact on CA partner schools and programs

● Handle data and information in a highly confidential and critical manner

● Develop strong working relationships with leadership at the state/school level to guide stakeholders through tough decisions, escalated issues, as well as test administration and accountability requirements

● Collaborate with OBL departments including, but not limited to, Program Managers, Partner School Leadership Directors, Special Education Managers, 504 Coordinators, EL Coordinators, Fulfillment, and Connexus Management and Support teams

● Welcome and onboard new State Test Coordinators

● Work with school staff to create, implement, manage, and monitor School State Test Plans and Standard Operating Procedures

● Collaborate with testing team to provide monthly training sessions for State Testing Representatives

● Collaborate with testing team to refine state testing resources, including the maintenance of the Master State Testing Calendar, for all internal stakeholders

● Gain familiarity with the analyzing and disaggregating of test participation data

● Gain familiarity with the state’s Test Management System(s) and technical specifications for online assessments

● Coordinate with OBL technology teams and external vendors for technology requests, solutions, support, and troubleshooting

● Facilitate the execution of vendor quotes, contracts, Coupa requisitions, and payments for technology requests

● Provide support to Program Managers and Partner School Leadership Team members, leading project collaboration, meetings and reporting, issue tracking, risk tracking, mitigation and resolution tracking, and communications

● Measure work progress, report updates and variances, and conduct regular meetings (as needed) with school stakeholders

● Coordinate one-on-one training(s) with State Test Coordinators and monitor the successful completion of the following tasks:

o Pin map creation and support sessions for updates

o Securing and assigning test sites

o Communications campaign and support with training school staff and monitoring successful implementation

o eIVR campaign training on export set-up and maintenance

o Live roster creation and maintenance sessions

o Assessment Management System navigation, maintenance, and data extraction

o Expense tracking and reconciliation guidance to stay within the state testing budget

● Provide additional consulting support sessions on the topics listed above for all Connections Academy schools as needed

Step in and support school stakeholders in completing escalated or overdue state testing tasks as needed

Qualifications

● Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience

● Strong technology skills, including an understanding of technical specifications and ability to troubleshoot various software/hardware issues

● Highly proficient in Microsoft Office and Google

● Experience in project management

● Experience in Special Education preferred

● Superior interpersonal skills with strong oral and written communication expertise

● High-level of attention to detail

● Customer service oriented

● Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast paced environment with a high degree of flexibility

● The ability to multitask while managing competing priorities

● The ability to travel as needed

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Primary Location: US-Remote

Job: Learning Delivery

Organization: North America Connections

Employee Status: Regular Employee

Job Type: Standard

Shift: Day Job

Job Posting: Oct 22, 2019

Job Unposting: Ongoing

Schedule: Full-time Regular

Req ID: 1913883

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.