InsideSchools FWS Student Assistant

Join The New School 

At The New School, we redefine the boundaries of education, creativity, and innovation. Founded in 1919 and located in the heart of New York City, we are home to approximately  9,000 students from over 100 countries, offering more than 135 degree and diploma programs across our renowned colleges, including Parsons School of Design and the College of Performing Arts (Mannes, Jazz, and Drama), Lang College and the New School for Social Research, and Parsons Paris. Our progressive, interdisciplinary approach has earned us recognition as one of the most forward-thinking institutions in the world.

InsideSchools, a project of the Center for New York City Affairs, is seeking a skilled researcher and writer to support the education team. Serving the largest school district in the country, our education team is committed to helping improve the quality of New York City schools for all families, especially communities in poverty and of color. For two decades, our InsideSchools website has been a trusted resource for caregivers and students seeking information about NYC’s 1,800 public schools, with more than 1 million users visiting our site every year. The education team offers policy analysis, reports, and public commentary to inform system change and school improvement. InsideSchools also supports immigrant families to navigate the NYC public school system. We facilitate workshops and provide one-on-one support at shelters and in partnership with community-based organizations. 

This work-study position is for 10 to 20 hours per week and will report to the Director of Education Policy and InsideSchools and the InsideSchools Program Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Student Assistant will contribute to building the capacity of InsideSchools to more effectively and efficiently serve NYC parents and students. The position will support the education team’s major projects.

Responsibilities include:

• Write descriptions of over 1,800 NYC early childhood centers, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

• Elevate the voices of middle and high school students through youth-centered services. 

• Support newly arrived migrant families to navigate the NYC public school system.

• Engage and empower parents.

• Collect input from school communities to inform content and programming.

• Develop comprehensive resources to support public school families throughout the K-12 experience.

• Collect and conduct data analyses of NYC education data, research individual schools, and draft narrative content for school profiles.

• Support the design, collection, and analysis of data, including surveys, analytics, interviews, and focus groups, etc.

• Answer questions from public school families, including working with the team to monitor comments and inquiries.

• Research educational topics and draft content for InsideSchools website and policy reports.

• Conduct and present literature reviews and data analyses related to NYC education that guide the education policy agenda and program implementation.

• Assist in planning and implementing workshops for migrant families, events, and focus groups.

• Attend education team meetings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Current full-time New School student with a Federal Work Study (FWS) award as part of their financial aid package for the 2026-27 academic year. 

• Strong interest in the public education system.

• An understanding of or interest in learning more about the most pressing issues in urban education, particularly the relationship between families and schools.

• Strong research and analytical skills. 

• Excellent writing and communication skills.

• Capacity to work independently and as part of a team.

• Spanish, French, or Chinese language skills are a plus (not required).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for individuals who have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Data analysis

• Marketing and outreach

• Qualitative and quantitative research 

• Social media 

• Writing

• Project management

• Teaching, training, or curriculum development

• Youth development

WORK MODE

• Hybrid/Split - Employees hired for this position have regularly scheduled, consistent percentage of time on campus (ex 1-4x/week) and also work some of the time remotely. #LI-DNI

HOURLY RATE 

$17 - $19 per hour 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. The New School recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.

Responsibilities:

The Student Assistant will support the InsideSchools team through research, writing, data analysis, and community engagement to help improve educational access for NYC public school families. Responsibilities include researching and writing school profiles and educational resources, analyzing education data, assisting with workshops and outreach for newly arrived migrant families, collecting feedback from students and families, and contributing to policy research and content that informs programs and advocacy. This position offers hands-on experience at the intersection of education, research, and community engagement.