NEA Education Policy and Disability Rights & Inclusion Intern (Fall 2026)

The intern will support the policy goals of the Education Policy & Practice (EPP) Department through research, policy analysis and development, resource creation, and advocacy for the following issue areas: federal education policy and funding, federal agency regulations, public school options, such as charters, and opposition to private school vouchers. This role offers hands‑on experience in policy advocacy across K‑12 and higher education settings. 

Federal Education Policy, Funding, & Regulations 

• Support NEA federal education policy and funding priorities through research, monitoring regulatory developments, tracking federal education programs and funding, and assisting with briefing materials and other policy products. Other opportunities may include observing policy and regulatory discussions and supporting discrete research projects.

Public School Options (Charter Schools) & Opposition to Private School Vouchers 

• Support building and maintaining internal and public-facing resources that support our pro-public education campaign, including tracking legislative activity, research, and advocacy efforts across the fifty states. Also, support NEA policy, advocacy, and organizing efforts to counter the privatization of public education through private school vouchers.

Disability Rights & Inclusion (DRI) Campaign Intern Assignments: Interns will work on a variety of projects, depending on their background, skills and interests.  These assignments include:

The intern will support the goals of the Disability Rights & Inclusion (DRI) campaign through research, outreach, resource development, and cross‑team coordination. The intern will help expand awareness of disability rights by supporting the creation of accessible educational materials and tools—aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards—and assist in mobilizing DRI initiatives. This role offers hands‑on experience in policy advocacy, inclusive practice development, and advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities across K‑12 and higher education settings. Potential activities include:

Research & Data Analysis 

• Conduct background research on local and national disability rights policy, practices, and activism. 

• Gather data on the state of disability rights and inclusion across K‑12 and higher education sectors. 

• Analyze the effectiveness of existing disability rights and inclusion initiatives, policies, and organizational resources. 

Resource Development & Accessibility Support 

• Support the development of educational and advocacy resources focused on disability rights and inclusive school environments. 

• Assist in creating and refining materials that follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility guidelines, including:  

• Accessible PDFs, presentations, and one‑pagers 

• Templates, toolkits, and guidance documents 

Member‑facing resource materials 

• Help ensure that existing communication and training resources meet accessibility standards. 

• Collect and help organize member stories and lived‑experience insights for potential inclusion in resources or advocacy materials (no content creation required). 

Advocacy & Campaign Support 

• Assist with planning and coordination of NEA DRI‑sponsored events, workshops, and training sessions. 

• Monitor legislation, regulations, and policy developments related to disability rights and inclusion. 

• Prepare supporting materials such as policy briefs, informational summaries, and advocacy toolkits.

Expected skills and opportunities for development that the intern may obtain from this educational experience.

Education Policy Intern - In addition to policy analysis and development skills, interns will gain a deeper understanding of NEA’s role in public education, and learn about NEA’s history, mission, and current initiatives. The intern will collaborate with members of the EPP team, other NEA staff, and external partners to support the implementation of a pro-public education policy agenda that centers the needs of NEA members and the students they serve.

Disability Rights & Inclusion (DRI) Campaign Intern -The DRI Awareness Campaign aims to increase visibility and understanding of the experiences of educators and students with disabilities. The campaign promotes disability rights advocacy and inclusive practices within K‑12 and higher education. 

The intern will collaborate with members of the DRI team, other NEA staff, and external partners to support the implementation of a comprehensive campaign that includes educational resource development, community engagement, accessibility improvements, and policy advocacy.

Skill Development: 

• Research

• Policy Content Knowledge

• Policy Review & Analysis

• Strategic Planning  

• Digital Communication Tools/Software  

• Legislation & Policy Development 

• Tasks/Project Management 

 Professional Opportunities: 

• Collaborate and network with NEA local, state, and national partners

• Attend congressional briefings and hearings

• Attend organization webinars, briefings, and conferences

• Engage with NEA staff in other centers and departments: government relations, organizing, communications, etc.

Additional Proposed Intern Activities: NEA interns will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with NEA staff and participate in a variety of meaningful learning experiences, projects and opportunities during the internship.  In addition to participating in assigned Center/department activities, based on their skills and interests, interns will also have opportunities to participate in relevant NEA sponsored and/or approved group activities that may occur at NEA or in the Washington Metropolitan area.  The group activities may include participation in interviews with the NEA President and Executive Director, and organizational leadership and staff, observing NEA events such as Representative Assembly events, Board meetings or cross Center/department events, and participating in policy forums, organizing or lobbying activities or organized partner or Intern events in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, such as Washington DC Intern Week.