*New* - Apply now for the Spring 2026 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Are you interested in K-20 Education Policy? Do you work to grow and/or sustain public education at the school, district, community, county, postsecondary, state, or national level? Do you work for a school district, a nonprofit, intermediary, university, government, or philanthropy? Then, our Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) opportunity is for you!
We are excited that you are interested in the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP), IEL’s 60+ year-old program designed to build policy, advocacy, and coalition-building capacities to drive educational change.
About EPFP:
This 7-week online program will equip you with the skills necessary to:
- create systemic change in your community
- engage in root cause analysis to determine policy solutions, and
- understand how to develop a dynamic advocacy plan.
The program consists of:
- 8 asynchronous modules
- 4 synchronous sessions
- 1 Washington Policy Seminar during the Community Schools Coordinators Appreciation Week
- 1 policy strategy project
Schedule
The EPFP: 2026 Spring Cohort will take place from February 9, 2026 to March 31, 2026, with the hybrid WPS and Hill Day taking place on March 24-25.
- February 9 to February 22 (weeks 1 and 2): On-Demand Sessions: Everyone: An Advocate Modules with Online Discussions
- February 24 from 7-8:00 pm EDT (week 3): Virtual Synchronous Session: Identifying Policy Goals and Developing Strategies
- March 3 from 7-8:00 pm EDT (week 4): Virtual Synchronous Session: Developing the 4 Ps of Policy Advocacy
- March 9 to March 22 (weeks 5 and 6): Virtual Peer-Learning Sessions: Vetting and Refining Your Policy Strategy
- March 24: Hybrid Washington Policy Seminar
- March 25: Hill Day (virtual option available for those unable to travel to D.C.)
- March 31 from 7-8:00 pm (week 7): Virtual Synchronous Session: Putting it All Together: Everyone: An Advocate Reflections
Admissions to the EPFP Spring 2026 Cohort are made on a rolling basis from September 18 until November 30 2025, and applicants will be evaluated on their ability to articulate their goals for participating in the modules, how they can contribute to the peer learning to take place in the cohort, and how they hope to support, sustain, and advance Community Schools in their home state. The deadline to apply for the EPFP Spring 2026 Cohort is November 30, 2025.
You will be notified of your acceptance into the cohort no later than December 14, 2025. To obtain a certificate of completion, all participants will be expected to complete all on-demand modules, participate in the online discussions, attend all synchronous learning modules, complete any and all reading or assignments related to the module content, participate in the Washington Policy Seminar, and honor IEL’s Gracious Space Learning Norms (more details will be provided during the first module). Additionally, all the EPFP modules and content are owned by IEL and may not be shared with those who have not been accepted for the EPFP: Community Schools 2025 Cohort.
Cost
The cost for the EPFP: EPFP 2026 Cohort is $699. Payment will be made via Stripe once applicants are notified of their acceptance into their program. Payments are due before the start of the first session, and may be made in one full payment or two payments in July. All participants must be paid in full to be able to participate in the program. Travel and accommodations for the hybrid WPS and Hill Day are not included in the tuition price.
Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP)TM is IEL’s long-standing nationally-recognized program, designed to activate leaders for equity, and develop a diverse and collaborative community of strategic leaders for effective public policy. With over 10,000 alumni from across the country, EPFP’s mission is to engage a diverse and collaborative community of strategic leaders to promote equitable education policy. Our alumni are leaders across PreK-higher education pathway and complementary sectors. Fellows engage in deep conversations, policy seminars, retreats, state policy forums (Hill or Statehouse Days), leadership development, policy projects, and site visits addressing important policy, education, and leadership topics.
Are you interested in Community Schools? Do you work to grow and/or sustain Community Schools at the school, district, community, county, state, or national level? Do you work for a school district, a nonprofit, intermediary, university, government, or philanthropy? Then, our Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) program is for you!
We are excited that you are interested in Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP), IEL’s 60+ year old program designed to build policy, advocacy, and coalition-building capacities to drive educational change. To apply, click here.
The 3 Pillars:
Now entering its 60th year, the program content explores three core elements of professional development – policy, leadership, and networking – which are built on a foundation of equity.
Fellows are provided a unique professional development laboratory in which Fellows come to understand, strengthen,
and apply fellowship-acquired knowledge and skills to prepare and make a significant policy change within or areas adjacent to
P-20 education.
Learn more:
EPFP History: Almost 60 Years of Developing the Leaders for Education We Need
The Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) has evolved over time since its creation in 1964 with funding from the Ford Foundation. The program began as a response to the explosive growth of the federal government’s role in education as a result of the enactment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and related legislation. The transformed role of the federal government generated a need for education professionals in the states who understood the content of legislation, the policy process, and the complex changes that state systems were undergoing as a result.
Each site develops a program tailored to local policy culture, conditions, and needs. Three program strands –leadership, public policy, and professional networking – organize the learning in EPFP. Each strand contains concepts, materials, and tools that sites can implement in a manner designed to fit local circumstances. Each site offers a different emphasis and mix of activities to implement each program strand. We currently have one affiliate site in the 2025 – 2026 cohort year: California.
There are over 10,000 alumni across 50 states! The Education Policy Fellowship Program is pleased to offer continuous learning and professional development opportunities to alumni and partners.
Washington Policy Seminar (WPS)
The Washington Policy Seminar (WPS) is the capstone event of the IEL’s Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP), the Fellows’ front row seat to inside the beltway look at federal education policy and national landscape. The 2024 year marked our 60th annual WPS!
Learn more about WPS below:
EPFP Impact
Evidence from national assessments confirms that EPFP Fellows become informed and skilled leaders and a part of a network that provides long-term benefits to their careers.
