Education Internship
Reports to: Senior Vice President, Education
Staff reporting to this position: None
Department: Education
Position classification: Internship
Minimum compensation: $16.10 per hour
Summary
American Progress has an immediate opening for two fall interns with its Education department. The department incorporates three teams—Early Childhood Policy, K-12 Education Policy, and Higher Education Policy—and is dedicated to changing America’s approach to early childhood, K-12 education, higher education, and lifelong learning by ensuring equitable access to resources, developing community-centered policies, and promoting the ability to participate fully in an inclusive economy built on a strong democracy.
- The Early Childhood Policy team is committed to advancing progressive policies with bold, family-friendly solutions that equitably support all children, families, and early educators.
- The K-12 Education Policy team works to develop policies for a new education agenda rooted in principles of opportunity for all and equity in access.
- The Higher Education Policy team works toward building an affordable and high-quality higher education system that supports economic mobility and racial equity.
This role will be driven by American Progress’ mission “to improve the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action, with the aim of not only changing the conversation, but changing the country.” These interns will be part of a dynamic department that supports work across American Progress’ five crosscutting priorities:
- Strengthening health and ending the pandemic
- Building an economy for all
- Tackling climate change and environmental injustice
- Advancing racial equity and justice
- Restoring social trust in democracy
The interns will support the department’s mission and work while learning many of the skills it takes to become a policy professional at a progressive nonprofit.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with research and analysis on emerging policy issues, including on laws and policies affecting the teams’ portfolios outlined above.
- Help produce memos, fact sheets, issue briefs, and talking points that compile and analyze data, original research, and analysis.
- Track policy and media developments and interact with policy experts internally and externally, including researching and maintaining records of press coverage and other important metrics for the team’s work as well as assisting with administrative tasks, such as note taking and scheduling appointments, meetings, and conferences.
- Assist the department with a variety of projects that involve coalition-building and advocacy work as well as work with policymakers, legal experts, and allied organizations that advances the department’s goals.
- Attend virtual meetings, webinars, seminars, hearings, and lectures and report back takeaways. This may include attending the many virtual events hosted by American Progress as well as virtual events that traditionally take place on Capitol Hill and throughout Washington, D.C.
- Write on the department’s policy priorities, either as a contributor to a larger piece or as the individual author of a column for publication, whenever possible.
Requirements and qualifications:
- Current pursuance of an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or law degree, or a recent graduate.
- Excellent research, writing, and editing skills and experience.
- Interest in and general understanding of issues across the department’s portfolio. Experience in one or multiple areas of departmental work is preferred, but depth in every departmental policy priority is not expected.
- Ability to work well under pressure and tight deadlines.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
- Self-starter who takes initiative and seeks direction as needed.
- Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
- Ability to diagnose problems and identify creative solutions.
- Commitment to American Progress’ mission and goals.
American Progress interns are paid at the Washington, D.C., minimum wage rate of $16.10 per hour. Interns receive paid time off for federal holidays. Interns are expected to be available to work from and commute to American Progress’ Washington, D.C., office at least two days per week. This position is not represented by a union.
We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and the levels of community spread and adjust plans as needed for in-office work. Any changes to our current hybrid office work policy will be communicated at the time of hire. Updates will be posted on American Progress’ Jobs page.