Purpose: 

The BPS Early Childhood Department seeks 5 qualified, professional interns, who will work collaboratively with BPS Early Childhood Universal Pre-K (UPK) administrative team in gathering, organizing and analyzing systematic data from Boston Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and perform other general administrative tasks. The UPK intern will have a scope of work with assignments led by UPK administrators and will report to the UPK Director, UPK Compliance Manager, UPK Family Engagement Manager and UPK Data Manager.  These positions are located at the BPS Central Office building, with the ability to complete tasks on-site and remotely, and is a part-time position ideal for a current graduate or doctoral student.  

 

Responsibilities:

 

EC Dept UPK General Intern

• Support data entry and data management
• Manage special requests from various UPK/Early Childhood Department administrators
• Support supervisor in working towards the development of better data collection systems that will enhance the quality of collected data
• Troubleshoot data system issues and data matching/management issues, if needed
• Collaborate with other BPS UPK staff to implement ongoing improvements based on data findings.
• Support current and future working groups to map out the direction of UPK for future years, including but are not limited to data collection and summarizing
• Perform other general administrative tasks - developing emails and templates, organizing documentation, assisting EC department staff - as time allots. 

UPK Data Fellow

• Support data entry and data management
• Organize, catalog, and analyze historical data for Universal Pre-K to be used for internal planning and public communications. Examples include historical enrollment data; quality evaluation data; and special education referral data.
• Establish systems for data collection
• Conduct analyses on current and historical enrollment and/or registration data for UPK - this will include analyzing census data; historical enrollment data across district, charter, private, and provider settings; projecting enrollment trends for next 5 years. Triangulate enrollment data with available program quality data and funding trends
• Support data analysis from various sources (e.g., enrollment, data & evaluation, etc.)
• Support data pulls and data sharing among multiple parties
• Manage special requests from various UPK/Early Childhood Department administrators
• Support the UPK data analyst and supervisor in working towards the development of better data collection systems that will enhance the quality of collected data
• Support UPK staff with general administrative tasks - such as setting up Google spreadsheets, organizing data into mail merging, preparing communications for providers or public audiences
• Troubleshoot data system issues and data matching/management issues, if needed

 

EC Dept UPK Family Engagement Intern 

 

• Assist FE & CS Manager in supporting the ongoing work with various district departments, CBOs, UPK partners, and outside state/city agencies to implement Boston UPK Family Engagement/ Comprehensive Service (FE/CS) model
• Assist FE & CS Manager in providing ongoing communication via verbal and electronic to CBOs, internal BPS departments, external stakeholders, collaborators, and outside agencies (developing Weekly updates & monthly Newsletters)
• Assist FE & CS Manager in leveraging data for timely internal and external reporting; evaluate, on a quantitative and qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs and special projects towards established goals and objectives and for continuous improvement
• Assist FE & CS Manager in developing tools aligned with the district’s current system to solicit and track family feedback; use feedback to tailor FE/CS support plan (Surveys, checklists, charts, etc…)
• Support Family Engagement & Comprehensive Services Manager in identifying, implementing, and monitoring opportunities to bolster parent/guardian participation in school life. Plans should be creative, entrepreneurial, effective, and support continuous improvement

 UPK Compliance Intern 

• On occasion may need to interact with programs in order to gather or clarify data / educational resources
• Support data entry and verification of data on Google Sheets and Google Drive
• Support data analysis from various sources (ie. Fiscal, Professional Development, Audit, and Data Research)
• Manage special requests from various UPK/EC Department Admin. for data collection, correction and verification
• Must be able to complete assignments as instructed, on-time and accurately.
• Be actively involved in the maintaining high quality data collection systems
• Support research towards the development of better data collection systems that will enhance the quality of collected data
• Resolve data entry discrepancies or errors by working with UPK Administrators and Center Based programs
• Resolve problems associated with internal data collection and verification procedures
• Troubleshoot internal user and program access issues on Google Drive.
• Help in creating powerpoint presentations and reports as necessary.

Data Analysis Intern

• Support data entry and data management
• Create improved financial tools for outside providers to submit budgets and invoices through Google sheets. Set up complex pivot tables and dashboards hosted through Google sheets. Set up dashboards on both budget and invoice tracking systems, hosted on Google sheets, to meet the needs of outside partnering agencies.
• Create systems with end audiences in mind, developing tools that meet objectives but are also realistic to implement and user friendly
• Conduct spending analysis on prior year’s fiscal cost data using Python-based templates; summarize data in visual presentation
• Set up tracking systems and help convene possible focus groups to inform tool development
• Provide data analysis assistance with working groups that inform UPK policy.  
• Analyze enrollment level data from SchoolMint platform database to codify funding-related trends. 
• Support data analysis from various sources (e.g., enrollment, data & evaluation, etc.)
• Support data pulls and data sharing among multiple parties
• Manage special requests from various UPK/Early Childhood Department administrators
• Support supervisor in working towards the development of better data collection systems that will enhance the quality of collected data
• Troubleshoot data system issues and data matching/management issues, if needed

Experience Needed: 

• Experience with Python, Excel, Google spreadsheets and strong data management skills. Must have experience with setting up complex pivot tables and dashboards within Google Sheets and Excel. Must have experience working in and creating tools via Google sheets
• Ability to work in a team
• Systems thinker who can develop a format that can be leveraged for future projects 
• Self-directed and comfortable with working independently
• Flexibility with working remotely and on site 
• Ability to execute tasks within a tight timeframe
• Experience creating, implementing, and testing new web-based programs (Google Drive experience also required) 
•  Comfortable providing technical assistance for computer based projects in the department 

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity