Fellowship Program
The DC Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education is an impartial, independent, and neutral government office that uses mediation and conflict resolution to resolve complaints and concerns for parents and families regarding public education in the District of Columbia. The DC Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education (Office) seeks to provide equitable access to education for all students within District of Columbia traditional public and public charter schools, and to support student achievement and educational outcomes. Fellows are a critical part of that effort. We seek fellows that are self-starters with a passion for education, advocacy, and policy development.
Key Responsibilities
- Participate in all aspects of conflict resolution services.
- Research and monitor new and proposed legislation.
- Draft policy proposals and solutions to systemic issues.
- Participate in all aspects of conflict resolution services.
- Conduct intake and analyze cases for trends and emerging issues.
- Research topics in education such as discipline policies, special education law, and inequitable systems.
- Assist with outreach activities such as developing presentations and maintaining the office’s social media presence.
- Analyze data, and write reports and briefs for government agencies, school districts, and other stakeholders.
- Attend local conferences, briefings, and forums as a representative of the Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education.
Fellows have the opportunity to engage in both systemic policy work and direct service. Past projects Fellows have completed for our office include:
- Developing a framework for a DC Equity Plan based on national district equity policies and conversations with equity leaders.
- Developing an internal systems advocacy evaluation tool to assess our systemic impact.
- Presenting research and policy recommendations to City Council Education Committee.
- Directly supporting families in accessing education through shuttle diplomacy and in-person mediations.
- Making recommendations on proposed city legislation.
- Assisting a Law School in developing an innovative alternative dispute resolution system.
- Researching policies that empower families and correct adverse and illegal school actions.
Supervision and Compensation
- Fellows are supervised by the ombudsman staff, who provide fellows with the necessary guidance and assistance required for the completion of projects.
- Fellows receive $15/hour compensation for 20 hours/week OR course credit.
To Apply
- Submit resume and cover letter to [email protected].
- Applications for spring fellowships are accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled.