California Department of Education – Sacramento, CA

Summer 2023 Fellows:

Summer 2024 Fellows:

Summer 2025 Fellows:

Charlotte Cao

Office Description

The California Department of Education (CDE) oversees the state's diverse and dynamic public school system, which is responsible for the education of more than seven million children and young adults in more than 9,000 schools. The CDE and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction are responsible for enforcing education law and regulations; and for continuing to reform and improve public elementary school programs, secondary school programs, adult education, some preschool programs, and child care programs. The CDE's mission is to provide a world-class education for all students, from early childhood to adulthood. The CDE serves our state by innovating and collaborating with educators, schools, parents, and community partners, preparing students to live, work, and thrive in a highly connected world.

The Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division is responsible for leveraging policy and technical expertise to provide comprehensive data and statistics about California's K-12 public educational system that empower state, district and local educators, researchers, policymakers, and communities.

Description of the Work

As a summer intern within the Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division (AMARD), you will engage in a variety of projects that reflect the division’s year-round work. You’ll shadow staff in the Academic Accountability and Policy Analysis Unit (ADPAU), gaining firsthand experience with the development and refinement of Dashboard Indicators. This includes attending internal workgroups and external policy meetings leading up to the July State Board of Education (SBE) meeting.You’ll also participate in key events such as the California Practitioners Advisory Group (CPAG) meeting. A highlight includes observing the Accountability Item presentations at the July SBE meeting.

Work will be balanced among various projects through the summer, including directly contributing to the department's “Pair and Share” methodology as well as a long-term project aimed at shaping the 2026 Dashboard or accountability policy beyond it.

Desired Skills

The ideal intern/fellow will demonstrate strong analytical thinking and a keen interest in education policy, data systems, and accountability frameworks. A familiarity with education public policy is preferred. Familiarity with the California School Dashboard, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), or K–12 education systems is a plus.

Key skills include:

Data Analysis: Ability to interpret and work with educational data.

Research Proficiency: Experience conducting policy or data-driven research, synthesizing findings, and presenting insights clearly.

Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Collaboration: Ability to work with CDE staff and receive critical feedback on work products

Initiative and Curiosity: A proactive approach to learning and contributing

The intern should be organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable navigating complex policy environments.