What is a Child Outreach Coordinator?
Child outreach coordinators implement screening programs that identify whether or not a child has special needs when it comes to learning. These types of programs may assess a child’s skills and performance in areas like hearing, vision, speech, language, and general and social development. Along with performing these assessments, coordinators may observe children, review their educational histories, interview parents about their behavior, and analyze their academic performance. They review the results of these assessments and other information, to help determine if a child is educationally disabled.
Coordinators also actively participate in the planning and monitoring of Individualized Educational Programs for special needs children. This requires them to work closely with special needs teachers to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs, assess student readiness, and monitor student progress. They also often serve as a liaison between special needs students and teachers, act as consultants for school personnel, and make sure all policies and procedures are correctly followed.
Child outreach coordinators work in public and private schools that instruct students ranging from preschool to high school. They work during the traditional 10 month academic year during regular school hours, although it is not uncommon for them to work evenings and weekends.
How to Become a Child Outreach Coordinator
Those interested in becoming child outreach coordinators should earn at least a bachelor’s degree in special education, education of the learning disabled, or education administration and supervision.
In these types of majors, students learn about people who have disabilities and important topics like educational assessment and testing, diagnosing learning disabilities, and developing special needs programs. Common courses include special needs assessment, curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, behavior management, special education law, characteristics of learning disabled students, applied and functional behavior analysis, and curriculum and program development.
Most programs also require students to spend a year teaching under the supervision of a certified special education instructor. A teaching license within the area of special needs is usually required before one can begin working in student assessment and program development. Requirements for licensure typically include graduation from a teaching program, earning of a certain amount of credits in special education, supervised practice, and the passing of a professional assessment test.
Most child outreach coordinators start their careers as special education teachers or in entry-level or assistant positions in child outreach programs before advancing to positions as supervisors or administrators.
Child Outreach Coordinator Career Outlook & Salary
As more parents are becoming aware of learning disabilities and more schools are implementing special education services, there will be a demand for qualified individuals who can administer special education programs and work with disabled students.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of special education teachers is projected to increase by 17% within the next decade, while the employment of education administers is expected to grow by 8%. This is due to more children being diagnosed with disabilities at an earlier age, a hiring number of parents screening their children for disabilities, and growing enrollment of school-aged children in special needs services.
Those with advanced degrees in special education or educational administration, experience coordinating special needs programs, and solid management and analytical skills will attain the best and most lucrative positions. The Bureau reported that special education teachers who worked with preschool through elementary school children earned a median annual salary of $50,020 in May 2008, while elementary and secondary school administrators earned $83,880.
