ELL Program Manager
Washington, DC - USA
Job Summary
ELL Program Manager
Job Summary
The ELL Program Manager responsible for the academic success and legal compliance of English Language Learners. You will serve as the primary ACCESS Assessment Manager overseeing the entire WIDA testing cycle. Beyond testing you will act as a high-impact instructional coach helping teachers adapt curricula for linguistic diversity while building strong culturally competent partnerships with families. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented advocate who can navigate complex OSSE compliance requirements while maintaining a tireless focus on closing the achievement gap for multilingual students by taking on a small caseload of students for direct instructional support.
The starting salary range for this role is $86280-$93782. This is a full-time fully on-site role with an anticipated start date of July 2026.
About KIPP DC
For 25 years KIPP DC has partnered with students families and the community to create joyful academically excellent schools across the nations capital. Today our network of 22 schools educate more than 7500 students in grades PreK3-12 supported by 1500 dedicated teachers leaders and staff.
Our work is grounded in five pillarsAcademic Excellence Joy & Sense of Belonging Highly Effective Teachers and Leaders Safe Structured and Nurturing Learning Environments and Commitment to College Readinesswhich ensure every student is equipped with the knowledge skills and confidence to pursue success in college careers and beyond. Our schools combine high expectations with joyful affirming environments that nurture academic success and personal growth for students and staff alike.
As part of the national KIPP network we share best practices and innovations while maintaining deep roots in Washington D.C. Together we strive toward a future without limits for our students alumni and community.
About the RoleAs the ELL Program Manager you will:
- Manage the WIDA ACCESS Assessment process including training all required staff developing mandated school test security plans and overseeing the implementation of test administration.
- Instruction: Lead small group instruction in accordance with ELL implementation plans
- Case Management: Develop and monitor individualized learning plans for ELL students ensuring asset-based approaches that build on student strengths.
- Compliance: Oversee the screening placement and exiting of students identified as ELs. Maintain student files and ensure all programming meets local (OSSE) and federal legal requirements.
- Teacher Coaching: Deliver professional development on EL strategies and advise content teachers on adapting curriculum for linguistic accessibility and provide ongoing cycles of feedback for ELL teachers.
- Family Partnership: Serve as the primary connection between the school and families providing culturally competent and linguistically accessible communication.
- Data-Driven Leadership: Analyze student growth data to inform instructional decisions and set ambitious goals for the ELL program
This is an exempt position and will report to the Director of Student Support. As a headquarters team that is focused on being responsive to our schools and meeting the needs of our students and families we approach our work in a way that reflects these priorities. Schools operate in person and our students and families rely on us for in-person support which requires this position to be fully onsite. This role is currently required to be onsite or in schools during regular work hours.
Responsibilities
The percentages for each key responsibility are estimates and other duties may be assigned. Flexibility and responsiveness are encouraged to accommodate organizational needs.
KELL Programming Quality Assurance (25%)
- Maintain database platforms to track the screening placement and exiting of students identified as ELs.
- Partner with school based ELL Point of Contacts to review ELL student rosters service schedules and implementation plans ensuring they are measurable standards-aligned and instructionally robust.
- Direct push-in or pull-out service delivery to students
- Prepare and analyze technical reports for the Director highlighting trends in observation data and programming effectiveness.
- Audit progress monitoring and progress report tools to ensure accuracy in student growth tracking.
- Monitor the implementation of accommodations to ensure students are receiving the full continuum of services as outlined in their plans.
- Delivery of specialized English Language Development (ELD) instruction tailored to EL specific proficiency
- Meet regularly with the classroom teachers to align small-group goals with the broader curriculum and identify upcoming language barriers in lessons.
- Monitor ELL implementation plans and report student language proficiency data quarterly
- Manage the WIDA ACCESS Assessment process including training all required staff developing mandated school test security plans and overseeing the implementation of test administration.
- Prepare and analyze technical reports for the Director highlighting trends in observation data and SST programming effectiveness.
- Maintain and update specialized instruction dashboards ensuring school leaders have real-time access to student performance data.
- Manage the distribution and organization of curricular materials and specialized instructional tools across assigned campuses.
- Provide modeling for data reviews training school-based teams on how to use data tools to drive instructional decisions.
- Train teachers on a unified instructional framework (like SIOP or specific scaffolding techniques) so students experience the same high-quality strategies in every classroom
- The program manager facilitates regular sessions where ELL and general education teachers design lessons together ensuring language support is woven into all content areas across the network
- Complete weekly cohesive coaching cycles with ELL teachers to provide real time coaching modeling and feedback.
- Lead demonstration lessons and learning walks allowing teachers from different schools to observe best practices in action and replicate them on their own campuses
- Use centralized assessment dashboards to ensure every teacher tracks student growth the same way
- Organize Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) where teachers share successful resources and solve common challenges
- Manage end-to-end logistics for community events including venue coordination food materials and attendance tracking
- Generate communications memos and calendar invites on behalf of KIPP DC to ensure cohort alignment.
- Manage logistics for external presenters and outside contracts for specialized services.
- Ensure differentiated tracks of development for ELL team during network development days.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in education
- A minimum of five years of successful school based ELL experience
- A strong track record of positive student performance results either in literacy math or across multiple content areas
- Experience unpacking grade-level standards mapped to ELL proficiency levels and adapting rigorous unit and lesson plans
- Experience with comprehensive progress monitoring towards ELL goals and using data collection to execute instructional strategies for ELLs
Preferred Qualifications
- A minimum of two years of successful coaching or school based leadership experience including using multiple assessment measures and observational data to determine improvement areas in instructional and student performance
- Experience designing and leading professional development
- Experience using multiple assessment measures and observational data to determine coaching and professional development necessary to improvement in teaching and student performance
- Well-read and current on best practices in ELL instruction
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift 10 pounds
- Ability to stand frequently
- Ability to travel across KIPP DC schools
- Prolonged periods of sedentary work
Demonstrated Excellence in the Following Areas:
- Commitment to Students and Schools: Demonstrates commitment to education reform believing in every childs potential for success and prioritizing students schools and the essential role of families.
- Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving: Finds creative solutions to challenges that achieve broader goals of team and organization.
- Project Management: Sets a high bar for own work and supports others to achieve desired team outcomes.
- Communications and Influence: Demonstrates adept communication skills and influence to advance work by adjusting content and style.
- Teamwork: Contributes to a supportive team culture fostering diverse work styles and maintaining a high performance standard.
- Trust and Collaboration: Establishes and nurtures effective relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders to support the best outcomes for our work.
- Cultural Humility: Advances KIPP DCs commitment to anti-racism by creating a diverse equitable and inclusive environment for all stakeholders.
- Continuous Learning: Commits to continuous learning through feedback self reflection humility and action.
Benefits & Compensation edited this section for your role
KIPP DC offers an extremely competitive compensation and benefits package:
- The anticipated starting salary range for this position is $86280-$93782. At KIPP DC we strive for clarity equity and to be highly competitive. When determining salaries we look at benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector.
- KIPP DC offers a robust benefits package including medical dental and vision insurances; various voluntary benefits; and employer paid benefits such as short term disability long term disability life insurance and a membership to One Medical.
- KIPP DC also offers a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against or tolerate discrimination against employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including but not limited to actual or perceived race color national origin immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal DC state or local law) religion sex (including pregnancy childbirth lactation and related medical conditions) age physical or mental disability medical condition sexual orientation gender (including gender identity or expression) marital status (including domestic partnership status) genetic information political affiliation pregnancy family responsibilities personal appearance veteran status uniform service member status status of being unemployed status of victim a survivor of domestic violence sexual offense or stalking matriculation or any other protected class under federal state DC or local law.
Click here or here to review KIPP DCs non-discrimination policy and KIPP DCs Title IX Coordinators contact information.
Please Note: If you encounter difficulties submitting your application or fail to receive a confirmation email after applying kindly reach out to Danica Cunningham at . Please include your name resume and specify the role you are applying for in your email. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Required Experience:
Manager
About Company
KIPP DC is a community of high-performing, public schools committed to excellence, equity, and justice.