NEA Education Policy and Disability Rights & Inclusion Intern (Fall 2026)

National Education Association

6d•$20•Onsite

About The Position

The NEA Internship Program provides interns with training, learning opportunities, educational activities and exposure to a variety of rich and substantive programmatic experiences that support quality public education. These experiences may include conducting research; data analysis; writing, editing, using Internet applications and social media; participating in and assisting with partnership events, meetings and policy forums; visits to Capitol Hill; and other appropriate program-related activities. The NEA partners with institutions of higher education, intern programs, and other organizations to identify interns, generally, but not limited to, juniors, seniors, recent college graduates (up to 18 months), or graduate students, who are interested in public education policy and education issues. Students pursuing degrees in Education, Political Science, Government, Human Resources, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Business, Finance, Economics, Management, Communications, Computer Science, Journalism, Mass Media, Graphic Design, Digital Communications, and other disciplines are encouraged to apply. This position supports NEA’s strategic objective to focus the energy and resources of its 3 million members toward the promotion of public education by participating in internship opportunities and assignments focusing on quantitative research and education research in the Education Policy and Implementation Center/Education Policy & Practice of the National Education Association and support the goals of the Disability Rights & Inclusion (DRI) campaign.

Requirements

Juniors, seniors, recent college graduates (up to 18 months), or graduate students interested in public education policy and education issues.
Pursuing degrees in Education, Political Science, Government, Human Resources, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Business, Finance, Economics, Management, Communications, Computer Science, Journalism, Mass Media, Graphic Design, Digital Communications, or other related disciplines.
Resume
Cover letter – indicating preferred department or area(s) of interest
Letter of recommendation
Writing sample
Skill in using a computer and/or laptop
Oral and written communication skills
Skills in proofreading and editing
Use of clear and articulate speech
Interpersonal relations skills
Reasoning and problem solving skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Ability to sit for long periods, stoop, bend, reach and carry light materials (up to 10 lbs.)
Ability to travel by various methods of transportation, e.g., airplane, car.

Nice To Haves

Experience in quantitative research and education research.
Familiarity with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.
Experience in policy advocacy.
Experience in inclusive practice development.

Responsibilities

Support the policy goals of the Education Policy & Practice (EPP) Department through research, policy analysis and development, resource creation, and advocacy for federal education policy and funding, federal agency regulations, public school options, such as charters, and opposition to private school vouchers.
Support building and maintaining internal and public-facing resources that support our pro-public education campaign, including tracking legislative activity, research, and advocacy efforts across the fifty states.
Support NEA policy, advocacy, and organizing efforts to counter the privatization of public education through private school vouchers.
Support the goals of the Disability Rights & Inclusion (DRI) campaign through research, outreach, resource development, and cross‑team coordination.
Help expand awareness of disability rights by supporting the creation of accessible educational materials and tools—aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards—and assist in mobilizing DRI initiatives.
Conduct background research on local and national disability rights policy, practices, and activism.
Gather data on the state of disability rights and inclusion across K‑12 and higher education sectors.
Analyze the effectiveness of existing disability rights and inclusion initiatives, policies, and organizational resources.
Support the development of educational and advocacy resources focused on disability rights and inclusive school environments.
Assist in creating and refining materials that follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility guidelines, including accessible PDFs, presentations, and one‑pagers, templates, toolkits, and guidance documents, and member‑facing resource materials.
Help ensure that existing communication and training resources meet accessibility standards.
Collect and help organize member stories and lived‑experience insights for potential inclusion in resources or advocacy materials.
Assist with planning and coordination of NEA DRI‑sponsored events, workshops, and training sessions.
Monitor legislation, regulations, and policy developments related to disability rights and inclusion.
Prepare supporting materials such as policy briefs, informational summaries, and advocacy toolkits.
Collaborate with members of the EPP team, other NEA staff, and external partners to support the implementation of a pro-public education policy agenda that centers the needs of NEA members and the students they serve.
Collaborate with members of the DRI team, other NEA staff, and external partners to support the implementation of a comprehensive campaign that includes educational resource development, community engagement, accessibility improvements, and policy advocacy.
Participate in interviews with the NEA President and Executive Director, and organizational leadership and staff.
Observe NEA events such as Representative Assembly events, Board meetings or cross Center/department events.
Participate in policy forums, organizing or lobbying activities or organized partner or Intern events in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, such as Washington DC Intern Week.