Our Programs

We want to leverage the power of people to improve public policy.

You want to make an impact. ERA will help you succeed.

APPLY NOW!

Driving policy change is a challenge. It takes good ideas and effective implementation – both of which require talented people. At ERA, our programming is designed to develop well-rounded, knowledgeable change agents in the education policy arena.

Our signature national semester-long fellowship provides the following:

Knowledge

Gain a solid foundation of education policy knowledge, taught by the nation’s foremost education policy experts and practitioners.

Changemaker Skills

Learn how to effectively drive change from within or outside of government, including how to lead and manage teams, implement education programs, read and draft bills, advise elected decision makers, navigate the regulatory process, and more.

Network

Join a network of peer professionals who share an interest in education reform, and gain access to some of the most talented, forward-thinking education policy leaders in America.

Career Opportunities

Set yourself up for major professional growth, as you learn about and get connected to a wide range of education policy roles and opportunities.

"There's a growing desire to expand education opportunities in America. But to pass and implement reforms that have a meaningful impact over the long-term, we need a broader bench of well-trained education policy leaders. Education Reformers Academy will help cultivate the talent needed to drive good education policy that puts students first."

Katherine BathgateERA Instructor and CEO/Co-Founder of SchoolForward

“As a classroom teacher who was always intrigued by education policy and research, I never had the tools or opportunity to explore the career for myself. Education Reformers Academy provided me with the ability to do just that in an engaging and meaningful way, flexible to my current job obligations. Through the ERA instructors, I was given a masterclass on the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in this career, while also gaining access to an expansive network of policy professionals nationwide.”

Ryan Hooper2024 ERA Fellowship Graduate, Ohio Charter School Principal, and US Army Reserves Education Officer

“I cannot stress enough how valuable and rewarding the ERA Fellowship program has been! I have gained so much knowledge about current and trending education policy topics and further developed leadership skills to feel empowered to drive change within my capacity. I have had the opportunity to network and meet so many other peers across the country who find meaning and drive in the field of education. Through our sessions, I have had the opportunity to meet and hear from key education policy leaders and reflect more on opportunities that exist for career advancement. I am leaving with a network of colleagues I can continue to engage with and a much deeper understanding of American education policy.”

Rica Douglas2024 ERA Fellowship Graduate and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Tennessee Department of Education

"The ERA fellowship experience is exceptional. The caliber of the content, leadership, presentations, guest speakers, and cohort fellows have exceeded all expectations I had at the outset. ERA has quickly established itself as the premier fellowship for those looking to drive meaningful K-12 education transformation, equipping fellows with all of the best tools and teachers to take their careers and impact to the next level."

Kaitlin Harrier2024 ERA Fellowship Graduate, Founder of NavigatEd Arizona, and Fmr. Sr. Education Policy Advisor to AZ Governor Doug Ducey

ERA has been the best professional development I could have done in the policy space.

Aizess Jones2024 ERA Fellowship Graduate and Programs Associate for State Policy Network

The ERA experience has been the highlight of my 29-year career.

Marian Jackson-Scott2024 ERA Fellowship Graduate and K-12 Teacher Preparation and Training Specialist at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette

ERA has provided me with a great network of education policy professionals from across the country, including other Governor’s Education Policy Advisors. This collaboration is critical to the education reform movement. The Fellowship is also training the next generation of education policy leaders to ensure public policy wins are sustained.

Madison Yandell2024 ERA Fellowship Graduate and Texas Governor’s Education Policy Advisor

ERA Fellowship

ENROLLING NOW!

The ERA Fellowship is offered twice each year, in the Spring (April through June) and Fall (September through December), and includes a mix of virtual programming and an in-person fly-in weekend experience. For the most up-to-date information about upcoming cohorts and deadlines, please visit the application page. Generous scholarships are available for eligible participants.

Join a cohort and network of peer professionals in a semester-long fellowship that will explore the ins and outs of education in America. Discuss how student learning can be improved, learn how policy change in education is passed and how education programs are implemented, and develop an array of professional skills to help you become a stronger advocate for education reform. Applications are now open for the Fall 2025 ERA Fellowship cohort, followed shortly thereafter by interviews of those who apply. The Fall cohort will start in September and run through the mid-December. Scholarships are available.

Frequently Asked Questions for the ERA Fellowship

Who should apply?

We aim to build a diverse cohort for our signature national fellowships and encourage any of the following to apply: current policy staffers for governors or state education agencies; state lawmakers and key legislative staff; graduate school students; Capitol Hill staff who either work on education at the federal level or are interested in moving to a state to work on education at the state level; current or former staff from state- or federal-level education advocacy organizations and think tanks; participants from other fellowship programs run by education reform organization partners; educators who are considering a career move into education policy/implementation; and other professionals who believe education policy is an arena in which they’d like to make a difference.

What is the workload during the fellowship?

The fellowship has been designed to support those who are working or in school full-time. Programming occurs during the evenings, with core policy sessions being held roughly every other week. Fellows are allowed to select the changemaker skill-building seminars they attend based on their interest and personal schedule. Prior to core policy sessions, fellows are asked to read or watch a few articles/presentations, all of which have been carefully selected to allow participants to get up the learning curve quickly. Fellows are expected to attend an in-person fly-in weekend midway through the program to complete an intensive policy exercise and spend time networking with their cohort (flight and lodging costs are covered by ERA).

What is the cost of the fellowship?

If accepted, the cost to participate in the fellowship is $3,000, though robust scholarship are available based on need. Please do not let cost be the reason for not applying. The fellowship is free to those who are public employees or current students.

Does the fellowship meet in-person or virtually?

This is a primarily virtual experience. Fellows will attend policy and skill-building classes online, and engagement with the other members of their cohort will primarily occur through an online community platform. However, as noted elsewhere in our FAQs, one of the most impactful components of the fellowship experience is an in-person fly-in weekend, where participants will spend a great deal of time with one another and engage in a policy analysis exercise.

How long does the fellowship last?

The fellowship itself is a roughly three-month experience. However, graduates remain in an online community – with access to people and resources in the ERA community – for years to come.

What will I learn in the fellowship?

ERA fellows will gain foundational education policy knowledge and develop what we call “changemaker” skills. Policy topics explored in the academy include: the governance structures and evolution of America’s education system, student outcomes and accountability frameworks, models for school choice, the financing of schools, how curriculum decisions are made, college and career pathways, and much more. Skill-building seminars will cover how to implement education-related legislation, utilize the rulemaking process, read and draft legislation, interview with the media, advise decision makers, write policy briefs, lead change-making teams, and much more. ERA sessions are taught by some of the nation’s foremost education policy experts, with ample time for cohort discussion with our speakers.

Education Policy Bootcamps

ERA staff and instructors hold education policy bootcamps in various settings around the country, including “lunch-and-learn” sessions on foundational education topics, presentations to conferences or summits, and seminars for interested graduate students. Designed to engage and introduce policy-interested professionals to the education arena and its career opportunities, these bootcamps will be free to attend and always end with an invitation for participants to sign up for the signature ERA Fellowship program.