Title:  Education Intern - Health Systems & Program Evaluation

Overview

This internship supports the Education Medicaid Team and Finance Division at the Vermont Agency of Education, with a focus on evaluating school-based student health programs funded through Medicaid reinvestment under 16 V.S.A. § 2959a. The intern will conduct programmatic and systems-level evaluation of how Medicaid reimbursement funds are reinvested by school districts to support student health, prevention, and intervention services.

The intern will work cross-divisionally and, as appropriate, cross-agency, collaborating with Education Medicaid, Finance, and other internal program staff to assess alignment between statutory intent, reported activities, and program outcomes. This work will also support improvements to data collection, reporting structures, and technical assistance used for ongoing oversight.

The position emphasizes applied learning in program evaluation, qualitative analysis, and public-sector accountability. Much of the information reviewed may include sensitive education and health-related data and must be handled in compliance with applicable state and federal privacy requirements, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

General Responsibilities

• Conduct a retrospective review of Medicaid reinvestment reports submitted by school districts over multiple years
• Perform qualitative analysis to identify common program types, spending categories, and implementation patterns
• Assess alignment of reinvestment activities with the statutory purpose and requirements of 16 V.S.A. § 2959a
• Support outreach to selected districts through interviews or surveys to gather additional context on program design and implementation
• Assist in the development of standardized data collection tools to improve clarity, consistency, and transparency in future reporting
• Analyze and synthesize findings to evaluate what services are being provided, who they reach, and potential impacts on student health and well-being
• Develop clear, actionable summaries and recommendations to support agency oversight, technical assistance, and policy development
• Prepare written materials and presentations for internal stakeholders
• Collaborate with Finance, Medicaid, and Operations staff to ensure work aligns with program goals and compliance requirements

This internship will require approximately 15 to 20 hours of work per week, with two full days per week preferred. The position may be required to work in person in Montpelier, VT. The position will work up to 1,280 hours annually, and students may exceed 20 hours per week during academic breaks.

Who May Apply

This position, Education Intern - Health Systems & Program Evaluation (Job Requisition #54165), is open to all State employees and external applicants. This is a temporary position. Temporary work is typically for variable hours and is not expected to be full-time. The State does not guarantee 40 hours of work per week.
If you would like more information about this position, please contact Katie Smith at katie.smith@vermont.gov.
Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered.

Environmental Factors

Work is performed in a standard office setting.

Minimum Qualifications

Must be actively pursuing a college degree in public health sciences, health policy, education, finance, statistics, data analytics, information systems, public administration, or another related field.

Preferred Qualifications

Graduate coursework in data analytics, statistics, finance, public health, health policy, health informatics, education systems, or public administration

Experience or coursework involving data analysis, data integration, or systems mapping

Experience cross-walking data across systems, including aligning definitions, fields, or reporting structures

Familiarity with education, special education, or Medicaid data systems

Ability to analyze complex or multi-source datasets and identify gaps, inconsistencies, or dependencies

Experience documenting data flows, business rules, or system processes

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills

Interest in health education systems, program evaluation, or population health, including students pursuing or considering CHES or MCHES certification; this role aligns with HESPA III Areas I, IV, VII, and VIII

Ability to analyze data and system structures and identify relationships across datasets

Ability to document processes and communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences

Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information in compliance with FERPA and HIPAA

Ability to collaborate effectively with team members while managing assigned tasks independently

Equal Opportunity Employer