Policy Evaluation Fellow
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY
EdTrust-West seeks a Policy Evaluation Fellow as part of its 8th cohort of Russlynn Ali Summer Fellows. The Russlynn Ali Fellowship, named in honor of the founding executive director of EdTrust-West, is a career development opportunity for college students and recent graduates. It sets the foundation for current and future educators, policymakers, researchers, and advocates to be lifelong leaders within California’s education ecosystem.
EdTrust-West seeks to analyze the impact of key policies we have advocated for, including our Equity 8 proposals and other state and local initiatives through our technical assistance work with school districts. The Fellow will monitor and evaluate these policies, assessing their impact on educational equity and identifying areas that may require further advocacy or adjustment. The Fellow will support the broader “Policy Evaluation Project” as well as the Knowledge Management Project, which aim to create and inform the organization-wide feedback loop between the Policy, Research, Government Relations, and Educator Engagement team.
EdTrust-West, the California-based office of EdTrust which is headquartered in Washington, D.C, is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.
This role is based remotely and full-time (37.5 hours/week) from June 16th through August 22nd, 2025. Earlier start/end dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis to be determined by students' and academic faculty’s school schedules. Fellows must reside in CA and report to EdTrust-West's Oakland, CA office on June 17th for mandatory in-person welcome programming and employment verification and August 19th for mandatory end-of-term programming. The Fellow reports to the Associate, Educator Engagement and will serve as a member of the Educator Engagement Team.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The responsibilities and objectives for this role include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Develop a monitoring process/framework for policy implementation
- Support with development of evaluation process using qualitative methods
- Review district Local Control Accountability Plans, board minutes, and other sources of local data to understand the implementation and impact of recommended policies
- Create focus group questions and protocols to understand local policy-level implementation and impact
- Design and conduct interviews or surveys with key stakeholders
- Providing strategic recommendations and/or rationale for further advocacy or adjustments
IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS
- Shared belief in EdTrust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity with a focus on racial equity
- Specific interest related to local level education-focused policies
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate with systems leaders in an interview or focus group setting
- Critical thinking and problem-solving ability
- Teamwork skills and an eagerness for collaboration
- Willingness to receive and act upon, as well as provide, constructive feedback
- Proven ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain high-quality work under minimal supervision
- Dedication in contributing to and maintaining an equitable working environment
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:
- Bachelor’s degree and enrolled in a graduate degree program; or a recent graduate (within the past year). Seniors in a bachelor’s program with relevant project experience will be considered
- Strong experience with qualitative research methods
- General knowledge of education, education policy, or related field
- Experience with similar projects and/or working with key education stakeholders preferred
COMPENSATION
The pay for this position is $26 per hour for 37.5 hours/week. Sick leave is accrued in this role.
VACCINATION FOR COVID-19
At EdTrust, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. As such, all EdTrust employees are required to be fully vaccinated and remain up to date on their vaccinations for COVID-19. New hires should be fully vaccinated and up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to their first day of work. Requests for accommodations due to medical or religious reasons will be reviewed by Human Resources.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please provide a cover letter and resume, combined into one document. In the file name, please write the name of the position you are applying for and your last name: e.g., “Policy Evaluation Fellow_Robinson.”
We invite you to consider your cover letter as an opportunity to:
- Tell us why you want to partner with EdTrust-West this summer
- Share how your background and experience make you the right fit for this position
Please submit your application materials at Recruitment (adp.com) by the deadline of March 16, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
EdTrust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.