We are actively interviewing for the following job. If interested please apply now.
Job Title: Early Childhood / Kindergarten Assessment Data Collector (Part-Time, Temporary)
Location: Springfield, IL (On-site at local elementary schools + remote training/admin)
Pay Rate: $25.00/hour + Paid Travel Time & Mileage Reimbursement
About the Role: We are hiring part-time Data Collectors to support the Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies in Kindergarten (PALS in K) research study conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR). Data Collectors will conduct one-on-one, paper-and-pencil early literacy assessments with kindergarten (and potentially first-grade) students at participating elementary schools in Springfield, IL.
This is an ideal role for former teachers, substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, retired educators, or professionals with classroom/child development experience looking for flexible, meaningful project work before and after the winter holidays.
Project Timeline & Hours:
- Pay: $25.00/hour (travel time is paid, and round-trip mileage from your home to the school sites is reimbursed).
- November 2026 (Upon Hire): Complete remote onboarding paperwork (~2 hours total) and background check clearance prior to Thanksgiving.
- Friday, December 4, 2026: Attend mandatory, paid full-day Assessment Training.
- Week of December 7, 2026: Complete remote practice and certification "Test Off" with project staff (~3 hours total), followed by time off over the winter holidays.
- January 4 – January 25, 2027 (Baseline Assessment Window): Work 15–25 hours per week on designated full school days administering assessments in-person during the first two weeks, with the third week reserved for any makeup assessments and remote file uploads/admin tasks (schools are closed for MLK Day).
- April – June 2027 (Spring Post-Test Window): Ideal candidates will also be available to return for refresher training and a second round of in-school assessments in late April through May/June 2027 (approximately 121–164 total hours across the full project).
Key Responsibilities:
- Complete all paid mandatory training sessions and pass the data collector certification Test Off in December 2026.
- Organize paper-and-pencil student assessments and class rosters prior to school visits.
- Travel to assigned elementary schools in Springfield, IL on scheduled assessment days and read assessment scripts verbatim from an easel to students one-on-one.
- Audio-record assessments and scan/upload completed forms daily to a secure website using a smartphone scanning app (such as Dropbox).
- Track daily assessment completion in an online tracker and attend a 1-hour weekly virtual team meeting during active testing windows.
- Receive physical assessment packages at home, store completed assessments securely in a provided lockbox, and ship materials back to the study team within 1 week of completing testing.
- Maintain positive, professional communication with school staff and research project coordinators.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in education, child development, psychology, or a related field (or equivalent knowledge/experience in early childhood education); Master’s degree is a plus.
- Demonstrated experience working with elementary-age children in a school setting (experience administering standardized assessments is a plus).
- Valid driver’s license, reliable personal vehicle, and willingness to commute up to 30–60+ minutes one-way to school sites in Springfield, IL.
- Must be available all day on December 4, 2026 for training, and available locally from January 4 – January 25, 2027.
- Strong comfort with technology, including Windows PCs, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint), Zoom/Teams, and smartphone document-scanning apps.
- Ability to pass a pre-employment background check, fingerprinting, and any school-district entry requirements.
- Physical ability to carry assessment materials, stand, walk, climb stairs, and kneel/crouch or sit on the floor when working in elementary classrooms.
