Policy Summer Internship (2025)

Bring your passion for education and equity, as well as your curiosity about policy, to a professional summer experience that will hone your skills and help you take the next step in your career. We are seeking a Summer Policy Intern to join our Policy and Evaluation team for the summer of 2025. Bellwether’s Policy and Evaluation team provides skill- and knowledge-building opportunities to a select group of students and professionals developing their careers in education policy and program evaluation. The location of this role is flexible, enabling us to hire the best person for the role, regardless of geography. About Bellwether Bellwether is a national nonprofit that exists to transform education to ensure systemically marginalized young people achieve outcomes that lead to fulfilling lives and flourishing communities. We work hand in hand with education leaders and organizations to accelerate their impact, inform and influence policy and program design, and share what we learn along the way. Our Policy and Evaluation team conducts analyses that inform leaders, organizations, and the broader field on ways to improve their work for America’s underserved students. We produce quantitative and qualitative analyses of contemporary education issues, conduct traditional and innovative evaluations, and generate new ideas and solutions for the sector. We offer recommendations to improve outcomes for underserved youth across the pre-K, K-12, and post-secondary landscape that are informed by rigorous analytical methods; our extensive understanding of the local, state, and federal policy landscape; and our experience working with a wide range of educational and early childhood systems, leaders, and practitioners. About the Policy Team Federal, state, and local policies play a crucial role in shaping students’ educational experiences. Bellwether offers high-quality analysis, advising, evaluation, and support services to help organizations and leaders at every level of the system better understand how policies affect and inform their work so that they can create better results for students, especially those furthest from opportunity. Our evidence-driven approach gives partners clear and unvarnished insight into policy development and implementation and how well they are delivering on their intended impact. We also publish research, analysis, and recommendations that shape education policy in service of improved experiences and outcomes for marginalized students. Our team members have experience as policymakers and advocates at the federal, state, and local levels and expertise spanning a wide variety of issues. Bellwether staff have served in roles at the White House, the U. S. Department of Education, and state education agencies, and as senior leaders in school districts and charter networks. Additionally, because our team includes many former teachers and school leaders, we’ve seen firsthand how policy and policy implementation shape school systems all the way down to the classroom level. About the Position Over the course of a summer, interns on our team work on one to two substantive primary projects matched to their skills and interests. Interns typically provide both quantitative and qualitative research support to Bellwether staff — this might include writing memos, research summaries, and blog posts on a range of education topics; quantitative or qualitative data analysis; and contributing to client products, evaluation reports, or publications. Interns will work closely with the internship coordinators and project managers to develop individually tailored goals for their time on the Bellwether team. Interns will receive feedback and guidance to help them advance their professional goals during and beyond the internship. Interns also participate in internal and external meetings and may attend policy forums, briefings, and other events. Qualifications Bellwether is a good fit for professionals who possess strong personal drive and motivation as well as demonstrate exemplary professional behavior and values, and who are resourceful, responsible, tenacious, independent, and self-confident. Excited? We are too. You should apply if you have: • Familiarity with the challenges and disparities facing underserved students and pre-K, K-12, and post-secondary education in the United States. • A commitment to Bellwether’s core values, including diversity, equity, and inclusion. • A commitment to our work to address policies and practices that lead to inequitable outcomes for marginalized groups. • The ability to model a high degree of reflection and self-awareness, build trusted relationships across lines of difference, and seek out and respond to perspectives different from your own. • Curiosity and willingness to learn more about key topics in education policy. • Experience with research projects. • Demonstrated writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. • A record of academic accomplishment, including enrollment in or completion of an undergraduate degree. • A self-motivated and independent work style, including time-management skills, attention to detail, and willingness to ask questions as necessary. • Computer competencies, such as finding articles/databases on a specific topic, slide creation, Microsoft Excel, and/or word processing. The following traits/skills are ideal but not required: • Current or previous enrollment in a degree program in education, public policy, or a related field, or an equivalent level of work/internship experience in education. • Experience completing semi-independent research projects in an academic or professional setting. Length of Internship and Hours Requirements The Policy and Evaluation team only accepts applications for summer internships. This is a paid internship ($30-$50 per hour, depending on incoming experience) that typically begins in June and lasts for eight to 10 weeks, no more than 40 hours per week, depending on an intern’s availability and Bellwether’s needs. We are also excited to explore the potential opportunity for continued partnership beyond this internship period and/or a permanent full-time role as an analyst on the Policy and Evaluation team post-graduation, needs permitting. To Apply Use your application (a custom letter of interest, a current résumé, and two professional or academic references) to show us that you have the skills we’ve listed or why the skills you have are the ones we actually need. Applications will be reviewed beginning in December 2024. This role has a priority application deadline of January 5, 2025. While we prioritize applications received on or before January 5, 2025, we will review applications as we receive them until the position is filled. Note: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Bellwether is committed to building a team that reflects the varied backgrounds and experiences of the students we seek to serve. It is important to us that you use your application materials to clearly surface ways in which your background and experiences align with Bellwether’s core values, including our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as viewpoint diversity. We also have an internship available on our Evaluation teamlet — click here to learn more! Bellwether is committed to providing equal opportunities. It is our policy to ensure that all individuals with whom we are in contact are not discriminated against on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, color, disability, gender identity, gender expression, political viewpoint, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Further, as described above, Bellwether is committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourages individuals from all backgrounds to apply. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job