Position: Graduate Externship Program (GEP)
Purpose:
The Office for Accountability, Research, and Measurement (ARM) is pleased to announce the Graduate Externship Program (GEP). Up to three (3) outstanding graduate students in the fields of educational measurement, psychometrics, or a related field such as school psychology who have completed two or more years of the program will be selected to participate in the program. The program will allow the student to develop professional skills by collaborating with a professor in the student’s university and networking with other outstanding students who share similar research interests
Program Details:
The Office for Accountability, Research, and Measurement has identified research topics to be investigated this year. The applicant will be asked to rank order each of these topics based on preference and to write a 1,000-word explanation as to why the highest ranked research interest is a good fit and consistent with the applicant’s research interest. This can include the analysis that will be used to examine the topic. The department reserves the right to assign a topic other than the highest ranked topic to a graduate student accepted in the program. The topics for this year are:
- How do various stakeholders (school administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers) perceive the effectiveness of the Deliberate Practice (DP) component of the evaluation model on the change in instructional practices?
- How do the school Title 1 funding decisions impact school achievement including Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and English Language Learner (ELL) students?
- What is the impact on student achievement for schools implementing Lindamood-Bell compared to schools who do not?
- What is the impact on student achievement for students serviced in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program?
- How much do Florida Alternate Assessment (FAA) Learning Gains impact school grades?
Location:
The GEP is a remote work opportunity that is project-based. During the program, each GEP participant will be expected to engage in one or two conference calls with ARM staff to discuss his or her progress. The program will culminate with a visit to ARM which will include a formal presentation to ARM and invited guests.
Schedule:
The student will complete work at his or her own university but will have access to resources at the school district’s Office for Accountability, Research, and Measurement during the program. An initial visit by the researcher to ARM will be scheduled to allow the researcher to become more familiar with the purpose of the project and to ask questions. The program will culminate with a visit to ARM which will include a formal presentation to ARM and invited guests. The dates will be announced once the research has been identified (the formal presentation is anticipated to be scheduled for October 3, 2025).
Mentor Role & Stipend:
The researcher must have a professor as a mentor for this project. The mentor will be required to attend the culminating visit which will include the formal presentation. The mentor will provide advice for the project, oversee the student’s work, and will receive an honorarium of $2,000 and an additional $500 to offset travel and incidental expenses for a total of $2,500.
Graduate Student Stipend:
Each researcher will receive a stipend of $4,200. An additional $800 will be provided to cover travel costs and incidental expenses including office supplies for a total of $5,000.
Required Application Materials:
- Completed Application Form
- A 1,000-word statement/explanation indicating why your highest ranked research topic is a good fit and consistent with your research interests.
- Copy of curriculum vitae
- Letter of nomination from the faculty member who will serve as the applicant’s mentor.
- Copy of mentor’s curriculum vitae
Please submit materials ONLY if you and your mentor are willing and prepared to comply with the requirements of the program. Required materials should be submitted by email AND mail by May 2, 2025, to:
Peggy Jones, Ph.D., Director
Pasco County Schools
Office for Accountability, Research, and Measurement
7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
pejones@pasco.k12.fl.us
Dates:
Applications must be received by May 2, 2025. Successful applicants will be informed by June 6, 2025.
For additional detail, and to apply online, see the Pasco County Schools Call & Application.