ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

EdTrust-West (ETW) seeks its 7th cohort of Russlynn Ali Summer Fellows for 2024. The goal of the Fellowship is to support people of color entering policy and advocacy leadership by laying the foundation for current and future policymakers, researchers, advocates, and educators to become lifelong leaders within California’s P-16 education ecosystem. Fellows will gain exposure to the issues, policies, and politics of the current California landscape through a cohort experience and will work on a project with an ETW team to advance educational equity and racial justice. The fellowship is open to college students and recent graduates.

ETW 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, ETW 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 in our Oakland office and is eligible for telework for up to 3 days per week. Fellows will be in the office at least two days a week including Tuesdays which is our mandatory, all-staff (including interns and fellows) in-office day. Fellows will have a dedicated workspace, an ETW laptop, and can access resources in the office such as conference rooms, printers, and office supplies. During in-office days, fellows will have the opportunity to socialize and get to know other ETW staff, interns, and fellows. Fellows should prepare to work remotely the week of July 1st - 5th. During this week, fellows will work on pre-assigned, independent projects.

The Ethnic Studies Research Fellow reports to the K-12 Policy Analyst with the Fellow’s work co-managed by both the K-12 Policy Analyst and the P-12 Research and Data Analyst.

This is a paid, full-time (37.5 hours/week) fellowship starting on June 17 and ending on August 23 for a term of 10 weeks.

ABOUT THE ROLE

California has taken historic steps by passing Ethnic Studies as a graduation requirement, with the intention of fostering a more inclusive and culturally responsive curriculum to support the academic outcomes of students of color. However, the implementation of Ethnic Studies programs across the state is not uniform, and there is a need to comprehensively understand the current landscape.

The Policy and Research team is currently developing a landscape scan that aims to examine the status of Ethnic Studies implementation in California schools to inform ETW’s future research and policy advocacy decisions. The Ethnic Studies Research Fellow will directly support this work by helping to answer the following research questions: (1) How many school districts are currently offering Ethnic Studies courses? (2) What types of courses are being offered? and (3) Are there demographic patterns in where courses are being offered and to whom (e.g., rural/suburban/urban districts, student demographics, etc.)?

The responsibilities and objectives for the role include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct research on Ethnic Studies course offerings within CA districts
• Collect relevant information on course offerings in CA districts serving grades 9-12, including number and types of courses offered
• Develop a database of districts, their student demographics, and their Ethnic Studies course offerings
• Write a memo summarizing findings and their implications for statewide Ethnic Studies implementation

IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Shared belief in Ed Trust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity
• Dedication in contributing to and maintaining an equitable working environment
• Commitment to “Walking the Talk,” which means operating with – and a willingness to develop – cultural competence, has an understanding that systemic and institutionalized racism significantly affect communities of color and the historical impact of privilege and power on American systems
• Excellent critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving ability
• Communication skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to communicate complex concepts in a clear and accessible way
• Attention to detail
• Ability to organize work, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines
• Willingness to receive and act upon constructive feedback

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• College level: undergraduate, graduate, or recently graduated undergraduate or graduate student. Recent students should be within 6 months of graduation when applying.
• Familiarity with education landscape, education policy, or related field
• Experience engaging in research and conducting landscape analyses
• Familiarity with and interest in Ethnic Studies

COMPENSATION

The hourly pay rate for this position is $26 per hour for 37.5 hours/week. All fellows receive sick leave.

VACCINATION FOR COVID-19

At The Education Trust, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. As such, all Education Trust employees are required to be fully vaccinated and remain up to date on their vaccinations for COVID-19. Any new interns should be fully vaccinated and up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to their first day of work. Requests for accommodation 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., “Ethnic Studies Research Fellow

_Robinson.”

We invite you to consider your cover letter as an opportunity to:

• Tell a story that illuminates your interest in education equity and EdTrust-West’s mission
• 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 February 27, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The Education Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds. 

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