P-12 Research and Data Intern
About The Position
The Education Trust (EdTrust) is seeking an intern for its P-12 division to support the Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project. The ideal candidate will have experience working with youth, conducting quantitative and qualitative research, and possess a strength-based mindset, a commitment to sharing power with youth, and strong interpersonal skills. The intern will train young people to conduct research aimed at improving their schools. EdTrust focuses on advancing policies and practices to eliminate racial and economic barriers in the U.S. education system, working towards equity from preschool through college. This role is based in Washington, DC, with potential for some telework, and requires the intern to reside in DC, Maryland, or Virginia. The internship runs from July 2026 to June 2027, with the intern reporting to the P-12 Senior Research Manager. The position is budgeted for 20 hours per week and requires passing a criminal background check.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree
- Graduate coursework focused on education, public policy, psychology, or related social science fields
- Experience working directly with youth
- Experience or formal instruction in qualitative research methods and quantitative data analysis
- Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
- Proficiency and experience with quantitative (e.g., R, Stata) and qualitative (e.g., Dedoose, NVivo) analysis tools
- General knowledge of education policy and specific knowledge in one or more of the following content areas: Artificial intelligence in education or social, emotional, and academic development (SEAD).
- Ability to pass a criminal background check.
Nice To Haves
- Shared belief in EdTrust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity, with a focus on racial equity
- Willingness to receive and act upon constructive feedback
- Ability to organize, prioritize tasks, work collaboratively, and meet deadlines
- Strong communication skills
- Attention to detail and ability to multitask
- Ability to take initiative and be self-directed
Responsibilities
- Assist in planning a YPAR project, including supporting the recruitment and selection of youth to participate in the YPAR cohort.
- Support the revision of existing curriculum materials to align with the topic and scope of the YPAR project.
- Assist in conducting the YPAR project, including supporting team building and training youth in research methods.
- Support all phases of the research process (design, data collection and analysis, summarizing findings, developing recommendations, and creating public-facing materials synthesizing results from the project).
- Conduct literature reviews (i.e., identify, summarize, and synthesize research) on issues related to P–12 policy, research, and advocacy priorities.
- Support quantitative and qualitative analyses, and draft findings and conclusions.
- Analyze district and state level policies on topics such as, but not limited to, the use of AI in education.
- Draft briefs, PowerPoint presentations, blog posts, and other materials to share findings with internal and external stakeholders.
- Support fast-turnaround research and fact-finding to respond to stakeholder and media requests on pressing P–12 education issues.
Benefits
- Sick leave is accrued
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Intern
