The Capitol Hill Fellows Program is a year-long program that places Teach For America alumni in full-time, paid congressional staff positions on Capitol Hill. Fellows gain incredible insights into the legislative process and experience in policy and politics at the national level.
Program Overview
Fellows are paired with a member of the House or Senate or a congressional committee and spend a year working on congressional issues in Washington, D.C.
Fellows represent many states and political parties and reflect the diversity of TFA's alumni. They do not lobby on behalf of or work on issues related to Teach For America during the fellowship.
The fellowship provides:
Legislative Experience
Gain incredible insights into the legislative process, engage in national affairs, and contribute important perspectives to policy debates in Washington, D.C.
Professional Development
Attend monthly professional development sessions to grow as a policy leader. Sessions are conducted by policy experts and cover an array of topics, such as the federal budget, student loan policy, and advice on advancing your career in policy and politics. Topics are tailored to the needs and interests of each cohort of fellows.
Mentorship
Be matched with a Teach For America alumni mentor on Capitol Hill.
Networking Opportunities
Build relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, and other policy professionals in Washington, D.C.
Stipend & Travel
Receive a $60,000 stipend, paid over 12 months. Fellows may also coordinate a trip to their Member’s home district or state.
“I arrived on the Hill intellectually curious, but timid and unaware of the power in my own opinions. I am leaving this experience with a thorough understanding of the levers of power and with the confidence to be able to advocate effectively for students.”
Cristina Diaz-Torres
Eligibility & Requirements
Ideal candidates will have 2-3 years of either pre-corps or post-corps work experience and show an interest in government and policy. Outstanding applicants may gain admission without substantial policy experience.
While the profiles of individual fellows vary, applicants will be evaluated based on:
- Professional work experience
- Demonstrated interest and focus on a career in politics or policy
- Research, writing, analysis, and communication skills
- Experience successfully working independently and with teams
- Track record of increasing responsibility and success
Application Process
1. Application
The application will go live in December. Candidates must complete the online application, submit a detailed resume, and submit one professional reference by the time the application closes. Applicants will be informed of their application status by March.
2. Policy Exercise
Applicants who are selected to move on to the next phase will be asked to complete a policy memo exercise. The top qualifiers will conduct a video interview with the Teach For America Capitol Hill Fellows selection committee. Finalists will be announced in April.
3. Final Interview
In May, finalists will travel to Washington, D.C. for in-person interviews with offices on Capitol Hill. Placement interviews will be assigned based on how the applicant's skills, experiences, and interests align with the project needs of placement offices on Capitol Hill. Placements will be determined no later than June.
Apply
The application for the 2019 cohort will be open from Dec 3, 2018-Jan 31, 2019. We will post a link to the application on this website. Contact capitolhillfellows@teachforamerica.org for information about this opportunity.
2018 Capitol Hill Fellows
Our 2018 fellows reflect a passion for the field of public policy and a vision for improving governance. This bipartisan cohort of fellows have successful track records, having demonstrated active engagement in policy analysis and education in their communities. Meet the 2018 fellows.
Projects & Placement Offices
The program consists of three major components:
1. Research
Preparing background reports, organizing hearings, arranging for expert consultation and testimony.
2. Legislation
Supporting the legislative process by conducting legislative research, drafting language for bills, tracking legislation, and serving as policy liaisons between Congress and federal agencies.
3. Congressional Projects
Responding to constituent questions, meeting with constituents, and handling projects for the Member’s home state or district.
Examples of Past Fellow Projects
- Writing a bill on improving teacher and principal leadership and retention
- Working on issues outside of education policy, such as juvenile justice and assisting a working group on child poverty
- Conducting research on the effectiveness of how the federal government spends money to support schools through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- Identifying opportunities to spur musical education
We try to secure placements with congressional offices that have capacity to host a fellow, and offices fellow candidates have identified throughout the application process that align with where they are from or their areas of interest. Fellows should not expect that their placement office will hire them permanently upon completion of the fellows program.
In the past, Hill Fellows have served in the following offices:
- Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
- Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)
- Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
- Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
- Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
- Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)
- Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
- Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN)
- Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
- Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
- Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
- Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH)
- Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)
- Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
- Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
- Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
- Rep. John Kline (R-MN), Chairman, House Education and the Workforce Committee
- Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
- Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
- Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
- Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA)
- Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)
- Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)
- Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
- Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
- Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL)
- Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN)
- Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
- Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)
- Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
- Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ranking Member, House Education and the Workforce Committee
- Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
- Rep. GT Thompson (R-PA)
- Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA)
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While ideal candidates will have 2-3 years of work experience outside of being a TFA corps member and have demonstrated an interest in politics and policy, outstanding applicants may gain admission without substantial policy experience. Alumni from all political affiliations and backgrounds, including independents, are encouraged to apply.
Prior work experience in a government agency or government-related work is helpful, but not required.
Ideally, opportunities that enable you to strengthen and build on the following skills are recommended:
- Research
- Leadership Policy Analysis
- Understanding of American politics and Congress
- Oral and written communication
We also recommend candidates have:
- An ability to articulate their own ideas on current public policy issues
- Knowledge of current events
- A compelling set of personal and professional goals
Candidates must be able to clearly articulate how their participation in the Capitol Hill Fellows Program will help them advance towards their goals.
Your resume provides us with more details about your professional experience. Please include your relevant public policy and/or other professional experience and make an effort to keep your resume as concise and relevant to the Capitol Hill Fellows Program as possible. Resume length is limited to a maximum of one page.
Candidates are evaluated and selected based on the following criteria:
- Professional work experience
- Demonstrated interest and focus on a career in politics or policy
- Experience using research, writing, analysis, and communication skills
- Experience successfully working independently and with teams
- Track record of increasing responsibility and success
Fellows have successful track records, including the advancement of educational opportunities in their communities, creation of platforms for addressing pressing issues, and active engagement in policy analysis and design.
Candidates that advance to the last interview round are invited to come to Washington, D.C. in May to participate in a two-day series of interviews with congressional offices to determine placement.
The Capitol Hill Fellows Program works to secure interviews with congressional offices that candidates have identified throughout the application process and that are in alignment with their areas of interest.
Teach For America does not provide housing, health insurance, or other employee benefits for Fellows. Housing in Washington, D.C. and other benefits are the responsibility of the Fellow. Fellows are eligible to purchase health insurance through the D.C. Health Insurance Exchange that was created by the Affordable Care Act. Details about the health plans available can be accessed on the D.C. Heath Benefit Exchange Authority website. Fellows may also purchase insurance in the private health insurance marketplace.
This varies among placement offices. Most Fellows do work on educational issues. However, many Fellows have the opportunity to work on projects that align with their areas of interest outside of education, as well as the agenda of their placement offices.
The Capitol Hill Fellows Program finances travel and lodging expenses for one work trip to the Member’s home district or state. In the past, Fellows have attended school visits in the Congress member’s home district, shadowed district staff for a day as they handle constituent work, and attended a staff retreat