Location:
Office of School & Community Engagement, Penn GSE
Modality:
Hybrid
Position Length:
Academic Year (Fall - Spring)
Work Hours and Commitment:
10 hours/week
Application Deadline:
Pay Rate:
$21.00/hr
Additional Compensation:
None
Federal Work Study Eligible
Overview
Project Summary | The Penn Graduate School of Education’s Summer Learning and Tutoring Programs were developed in response to post-pandemic learning needs at a Philadelphia-based public elementary school, where school leaders and teachers voiced deep concern about the increasing number of students with gaps in their foundational Math and English Language Arts (ELA) skills. The Summer Learning and Tutoring Programs were implemented Spring 2023 for students identified as performing below District standards in ELA and Math and served as Tier 2 services that address students’ individual academic and developmental needs holistically.
Third party evaluators will conduct a retrospective, mixed methods evaluation of the Summer Learning and Tutoring Programs delivered between Spring 2023 and Spring 2024. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the present evaluation seeks to (1) measure the programs’ impacts on participants’ academic growth and engagement in learning, (2) to ascertain for whom the programs are working and explore why, as well as (3) to examine staff and stakeholders’ perspectives on the effectiveness of program processes. To conduct the aforementioned analyses, the research team will use secondary data from the following sources: (1) de-identified data collected by program staff for the purposes of internal progress monitoring; and (2) de-identified School District of Philadelphia data capturing student demographics and school-and student-level indicators of academic performance and engagement in learning.
Findings from this work will provide preliminary evidence as to whether, to what degree, and in what ways the programs have improved the school's ability to make progress towards their overarching objectives, as well as identify strengths and areas of improvements to intervention design and delivery.
Supervisor/Contact
Julie Berger - Associate Director, Office of School & Community Engagement
juliebe@upenn.edu
Required Duties
The evaluation team is in search of two graduate research assistants to support the project's qualitative evaluation efforts for 10 hours a week. The project begins late November 2024 and runs through July 2026. Candidates must be available through the Spring 2025 semester through end of August 2025 - virtual participation is OK. Participation in the full length of the project is encouraged, but not required. Research assistants will be included as co-authors for any resulting publications. This is a paid research position. Work study eligibility is desirable but not mandatory.
Preferred Qualification and Essential Skills
- Qualitative research and analysis
- Candidates with a background (research or practice) or interest in elementary education and/or multicultural education are desired.
Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit a resume/CV and cover letter describing their relevant experience and interest in the position to Lauren Wright, Senior Research Coordinator, at lewrig@upenn.edu.