Current Opportunities for U.S. Department of Education

White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics Internship Program

Opportunity Type: Internship
Application Deadline: Rolling
Description: Internship Program The White House Initiative’s Year-round Internship Program provides current undergraduate and graduate students with an opportunity to learn about Latino-focused education policy, communications, and outreach at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Collecting research and data on Latino education, institutions and communities for briefing materials; Transcribing Latino leader and President’s Advisory Commission meeting notes and/or participant feedback following WHI events; Performing data entry and managing the office database/Listserv (Salesforce and govDelivery programs); Greeting and escorting visitors to meetings; Participating in strategic planning and staff meetings and other Department policy briefings and meetings relevant to the work of the WHI; Assisting senior staff in preparing interim and final reports and other materials for senior officials; Responding to constituent inquiries verbally or in writing in English and/or Spanish; Creating and/or updating presentations, fact sheets, one-pagers or talking points; Assisting with all planning and implementation needs for upcoming local and out-of-town events and meetings, which can include collecting/researching background materials, cold-calling Listserv members, cataloging attendees, escorting senior Administration officials and members of the President’s Advisory Commission; and more; Maintaining office media archives, which includes searching for any media coverage related to WHI events and speaking engagements; Liaising between the WHI and local and national Latino organizations and federal agencies; Providing Facebook and Twitter updates to the WHI’s accounts as needed; and Traveling (when necessary). In addition, opportunities for developmental growth are encouraged, such as interviewing senior Department officials and officials from external organizations, and attending internal/external presentations and briefings related to Latino education. Duties also will vary slightly (more substantive work) for graduate students, particularly Ph.D. candidates. Throughout the course of their internships, students will have the opportunity to attend meetings, briefings and other special events on the Hill, at the White House and in other federal agencies. Group tours and other social outings also are organized by the chief of staff, and include locations such as the Library of Congress, White House, U.S. Capitol, and the Smithsonian Institution museums.

How to Apply Applicants must submit ALL of the following items to be considered for an internship: Resume; One-page cover letter stating: Student’s reasons for wanting to intern with the office; Term to which he or she is applying (i.e., summer, fall, winter, spring); Dates of availability (start and end dates of the internship); and What the student has accomplished or plans to accomplish to improve the academic achievement and/or socioeconomic advancement of Hispanics; Official/Unofficial transcripts; Proof of enrollment for the current and the next semesters (Class schedule or Lettr from Registrar); Volunteer Service Agreement [MS Word, 28KB]; Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification [PDF, 378KB]; Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment [PDF, 374KB].

ED Student Volunteer Unpaid Internship Program (Summer)

Opportunity Type: Internship
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Description: The Department of Education (ED) offers internships for students interested in seeking valuable work experience in government and federal education policy and administration. Volunteers have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the Department's mission to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. ED offers internships in the fall, winter/spring, and summer. Typically interns are with the Department for eight to ten weeks (some can stay shorter or longer depending on circumstances). Read more details about application timelines. Types of Internships The Department works to tailor each intern's experience to the interests, and skills of the interns against the needs of Department offices. In the past, students have completed projects focusing on: Policy analysis and evaluation. Research. Finance. Public affairs and communications. Community outreach. Intergovernmental relations. Legislative affairs. News media. Legal work. And a host of other projects. Candidates should indicate which offices most interest them in their application. See a list of ED's offices. Please note that availability of internships within given offices varies throughout the year, and some offices require specialized subject knowledge to qualify. Activities for ED Interns In addition to the opportunities within their offices, students are encouraged to participate in ED-sponsored intern events, such as: Brownbag lunch series with senior ED officials. Tours of D.C. landmarks. Professional development and resume-writing workshops. Social activities. Interning at ED makes it easy to take advantage of the Department's location in the heart of the nation's capital.

Teaching Ambassador Fellowship Program

Opportunity Type: Fellowship
Application Deadline: December 14, 2023
Description: The Teaching Ambassador Fellowship is an initiative designed to improve students’ education by involving practicing teachers in the development and implementation of education policy. Teaching Ambassador Fellows are selected to work for the U.S. Department of Education full-time at Headquarters, as Washington Fellows, and part-time on an hourly basis from their home communities, as Classroom Fellows.

All Fellows are current classroom teachers or instructional coaches/specialists on loan from their school or district through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act Authority. They are paid to assist the Department at the Department’s expense and gain valuable professional development and experience with Federal materials and information. During their Fellowship, Fellows learn about the U.S. Department of Education’s programs, resources and policies, share this information with other educators, and provide input to the national conversation on education.

Teaching and Principal Ambassador Fellowship

Opportunity Type: Fellowship
Application Deadline: January 20, 2024
Description: For 2015-2016, we are pleased to now offer two separate year-long paid positions: the Washington Fellowship which is a full-time “principal in residence” appointment based at the Department’s Headquarters in Washington and the Campus Fellowship which enables principals to participate on a part-time basis for the Department, in addition to their primary school responsibilities. All Principal Ambassador Fellows work together with one another and in collaboration with the Teaching Ambassador Fellows to address common goals, in addition to taking on individual leadership responsibilities within the team and meeting individual goals.

Contact Information

U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
http://www.ed.gov/