Policy Fellow

The Education Trust • Nashville, TN

7d • $19 - $30 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Education Trust - Tennessee (EdTrust-Tennessee) seeks a Policy Fellow to join our Policy & Research team. The Fellow will join a staff committed to fulfilling our mission of closing opportunity gaps that disproportionally affect students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. The Fellow will have the exciting opportunity to support an ambitious, equity-driven research and policy agenda and immerse themselves in Tennessee’s education policy and advocacy landscape. Fellows are integral team members who will support and shape research projects that increase their professional skills and experiences. By the end of this fellowship, this person will have multiple externally published written products for their portfolio, deeper expertise in our policy agenda priorities and relationships with partners, stakeholders, and institutions in Tennessee and beyond. During the 2026-2027 fellowship, research project topics could include school finance, financial aid for higher education, assessment and accountability, high school to college transition, equitable and safe access to AI, and math. EdTrust 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 is a 12 month, full-time (at least 30 hours per week) fellowship, available July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The role is based in our Nashville, Tennessee office and is eligible for telework per our current policy (i.e., up to 3 days of telework per week). The Fellow reports to the Senior P-12 Policy Analyst.

Requirements

• Experience and/or strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative data collection, management, analysis, and visualization, including advanced Excel, Tableau, and STATA
• Experience and/or strong understanding of P-12 and/or higher education federal, state, and local contexts and levers that affect the Tennessee education policy landscape
• The Fellow may be in the last year of pursuing their Bachelor’s degree, in a Master’s degree program, or a recent graduate focused on education policy or a related field.

Nice To Haves

• Shared belief in EdTrust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity, with a focus on racial equity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to translate complex legislation, data, research, and policy to a variety of audiences
• Willingness to receive and act upon constructive feedback
• Ability to organize, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• Attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Ability to take initiative and be self-directed
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively

Responsibilities

• Monitor, analyze, and track P-12 and higher education policy developments in Tennessee related to EdTrust priority issues to inform our policy strategy
• Analyze bill progress, debates, and amendments in relevant committees in the Tennessee General Assembly, and support legislative summaries to inform internal and external legislative monitoring resources
• Collect and analyze local, state, and national education data to support policy, research, and advocacy efforts
• Produce written products (e.g., fact sheets, memos, reports, blog posts, and presentations) to advance our policy agenda
• Advance a research project through a full legislative session, supporting with original research, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborate with partners, stakeholders, and institutions across the education policy landscape
• Conduct data analysis and research in response to inquiries from a variety of internal and external stakeholders

Benefits

• medical, dental and vision insurance covered at 100%
• significant coverage also offered for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents
• sick leave
• vacation leave
• holiday closures (following federal government)
• week-long summer break
• week-long winter break
• Employee Assistance Plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree