Science Assessment Specialist (Education Specialist IV)

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

Position Overview: The Assessment Development Division (ADD) oversees the planning, management, and oversight of content development for specific subject areas across a suite of assessment products that support aligned student instruction in the state of Texas

ADD has two parts: the Content team, comprised of content experts, who are responsible for editing and approving the passages, items, and tests for our assessments and the Operations team, comprised of program managers, who are responsible for managing the schedule, processes, inventory, risk management, and long-term planning.

The Assessment Development Science Specialist is responsible for the development of all Science content for all components of the Texas Assessment Program, including STAAR and Special Forms.

This role collaborates directly with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure that the development of STAAR, Special Forms, and Operational Resources align with the state and division's vision to improve educational outcomes for all Texas students. This role will also require managing the state's assessment vendors.

This position performs highly advanced consultative services, provides technical assistance to the Assessment Development Division team, and works with considerable latitude to use initiative and independent judgment.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume, tailored cover letter, and short answer responses are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Essential Functions
Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Item and Test Development across all Texas Assessment Programs (STAAR, STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, TELPAS Alternate, STAAR Interims, and Through-Year Assessment Pilot): Oversee the development and continuous improvement processes supporting clear and aligned specifications for high-quality assessments and assessment items. Oversee the review and revision of all available assessment items, including constructed response items and scoring for given titles
2. Communications and Resources and Educator Engagement: Develop resources, materials, trainings, and communications (e.g., sample items, blueprints, scoring guides) to support stakeholder understanding of the Texas assessment program and improve assessment literacy. Manage and facilitate content reviews and engagement opportunities (e.g., presentations, conferences) across a variety of Texas stakeholders, including Texas educators.
3. Content Expertise & Support Across Agency: Leverage content and instructional expertise to design, develop, and review resources and professional development aligned to the TEKS
4. Division Collaboration: Work in close collaboration with Content directors and members of the ADD Operations team to give feedback on schedules, process definitions and improvement, long-term planning, risk management, and communications.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State’s Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military “occupational category” that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov"; to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.