Director, Academic Governance and Compliance

🇺🇸In-Person - Austin, TX$140K–$180K/yri58min ago

K-12 Operations Academic Compliance Charter School Management ESSA Compliance Accreditation Policy Implementation

Role Snapshot

The Director of Academic Governance and Compliance ensures KIPP Texas maintains full alignment with Texas Education Agency mandates, state laws, federal policies, and charter school accreditation standards. This role serves as the primary architect for academic policy execution and institutional quality assurance across the organization.

Key Responsibilities: Lead compliance with TEA monitoring visits, state audits, and accreditation reviews; oversee charter renewal processes and mock accreditation visits; manage Campus Improvement Plans and Comprehensive Needs Assessment processes; track statutory compliance for HB 1416 and HB 3 requirements including tutoring documentation and CCMR planning; coordinate instructional material review and adoption processes; and serve as liaison between Academics, Data/PEIMS, Finance, and Legal divisions.

Skills & Tools: Expert knowledge of Texas Education Agency policies, charter school accreditation standards, and federal ESSA guidelines; strong project management and cross-functional coordination abilities; proficiency in data analysis for compliance tracking and institutional planning; excellent written and verbal communication for training and policy translation; and demonstrated ability to manage complex regulatory documentation and audit preparation.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Education, Policy, or related field; 7+ years of experience in education governance, charter school operations, or academic compliance; demonstrated expertise in TEA policies and accreditation processes; and prior experience managing high-stakes audits, accreditation reviews, or large-scale institutional compliance initiatives.

Location: In-Person - Austin, TX

Compensation: $140K–$180K/yr (estimated)

Prep for this role with AI tools →

Job Description

The Director of Academic Governance and Compliance is responsible for ensuring that KIPP Texas remains in full alignment with all Texas Education Agency (TEA) academic mandates, state laws, federal policies, and charter school accreditation standards. This role serves as the primary architect for academic policy execution and institutional quality assurance, translating complex legislative and accreditation requirements into operational reality. By coordinating across the Academics division, this individual ensures that the organization is compliant, documented, and prepared for state audits and accreditation reviews.

Goals:

100% Compliance on all TEA monitoring visits and state audits related to HB 1416 and HB 3.
Successful Charter Renewal and maintenance of "Accredited" status with zero high-risk findings from TEA or regional accreditors.
On-time completion and 100% approval rate for all Campus Improvement Plans (CIPs).
Successful execution of the Local Instructional Material Review process for all newly adopted curricula.
Zero findings in annual external audits regarding academic state/federal fund usage.

Legislative, TEA Policy & Accreditation Execution

Act as the primary internal expert on new and existing TEA policies and accreditation criteria, providing clear summaries and action plans for executive leadership.
Lead the technical execution of state mandates and accreditation standards, ensuring that all regional and campus-level academic procedures meet or exceed Texas statutory requirements.
Establish a rigorous internal monitoring system to track adherence to State Board of Education (SBOE) rules, federal ESSA guidelines, and Charter School Performance Frameworks.

Charter School Accreditation & Renewal

Lead the self-study and evidence-collection processes required for regional accreditation (e.g., Cognia) and TEA charter performance reviews.
Manage the academic components of the charter contract renewal process, ensuring all performance exhibits and governance documents demonstrate high-quality academic standing.
Conduct internal "mock" accreditation visits to campuses to ensure alignment with instructional and governance standards.

Statutory Compliance (HB 1416 & HB 3)

Oversee the tracking and documentation of required tutoring hours for students who do not perform satisfactorily on STAAR/EOC exams, ensuring 100% compliance with state reporting.
Coordinate the development and monitoring of high-school, college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) plans and early childhood literacy/math proficiency plans.
Maintain "audit-ready" documentation for all House Bill requirements to ensure no loss of funding or accreditation status.

Campus Improvement Plans (CIP) & Planning

Lead the annual creation, mid-year review, and end-of-year evaluation of Campus Improvement Plans (CIPs) for all KTX schools.
Facilitate the Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) process at each campus to ensure improvement plans are data-driven and address specific student population gaps.
Ensure all plans are uploaded and approved within the required state timelines and meet all Title I schoolwide program requirements.

Instructional Material Review & Governance

Design and lead the process for the selection and adoption of instructional materials, ensuring they meet the requirements of the Texas Resource Review and local community transparency standards.
Stay ahead of TEA Proclamation cycles to ensure the organization is prepared for upcoming textbook and digital resource adoptions.
Maintain and update the KIPP Texas Academic Policy Manual, ensuring all internal grading, promotion, and graduation policies are legally sound.

Cross-Functional Coordination & Leadership

Serve as the "connective tissue" between Academics, Data/PEIMS, Finance, and Legal to ensure that academic programming is accurately reflected in state reporting.
Provide regular training to Academics leaders on Academic compliance benchmarks, accreditation evidence collection, and legislative updates.
Lead other academic governance duties as assigned by the CAO, including state waiver applications and emergency policy shifts.