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Position Available: Research, Evaluation and Assessment Department at Minneapolis Public Schools

Position Description:
The Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Department of the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) is seeking a graduate student intern who can assist us with work on two large projects (large-scale primary grades assessment planning; K-12 teacher evaluation). The successful candidate will be strongly encouraged to collaborate with REA Specialists to propose and write original research that utilizes district data to address questions that will benefit MPS students and the field of education broadly (e.g., an AERA or NCME proposal for 2014).

This position pays $15/ hour and involves 10-20 hours per week through June 30. The position is available immediately and is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed starting Tuesday, February 19.

Responsibilities

  • Assist REA staff members in supporting the goals of two major departmental projects (K-2 assessment review and planning; K-12 teacher evaluation)
  • Research best practices in K-2 assessment, across several content domains
  • Conduct a national scan of assessment options for grades K-2
  • Help facilitate progress of several content-specific work groups by

  • providing research and data analysis
  • summarizing outcomes of meetings
  • conducting interviews, surveys and focus groups


  • Assist REA specialists with research related to teacher recruitment, induction, professional development, retention, and evaluation.

    • Essential Qualifications

  • Graduate student in either a Master's or PhD program
  • Coursework in educational measurement
  • Coursework in survey methodology
  • Coursework in statistics
  • Proficiency with SPSS or R (i.e., ability to manage multiple data files and calculate inferential and descriptive statistics)
  • Knowledge of measurement concepts such as reliability, validity
  • Experience conducting literature reviews
  • Knowledge of proper survey design and analysis
  • Strong oral and written communication skills

    • Desired Qualifications

  • Experience with item response theory
  • Experience with assessment scaling
  • Experience with generalizability theory
  • Experience with value-added, multilevel/longitudinal, or structural equation modeling

    • Please send a letter of interest and your current Vita to Eric Vanden Berk, Interim Director, Research, Evaluation and
    Assessment Department, at Eric.Vandenberk@mpls.k12.mn.us

    Posted by amsuchy on February 13, 2013 2:32 PM |