Midtown Group staffing firm is seeking at least five education professionals for a critical data collection project that the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is conducting in Erie.
Ideal candidates will be retired or substitute teachers who are up for visiting a variety of schools and helping gather details that will help improve outcomes for local students. Here are the details:
Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies in Kindergarten (PALS in K) Data Collector
Pay, Hours, Timeline:
$23.07 to $25.00 /hour, DOE, with approximately 95 hours of work from April 2026 – June 2026. Hours will vary depending on the number of classrooms/students needing to be assessed.
Job Description:
The Midtown Group is seeking part-time data collectors to work on AIR's Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) in Kindergarten (K) research study.
Data collectors will administer a set of early literacy assessments to local kindergarten (and potentially first grade) students in classrooms participating in PALS in K, an evidence-based supplemental class-wide peer reading literacy program, at the end (post-test) of the research study.
Data Collector Responsibilities (April 2026 – June 2026):
Responsibility Timeline
Complete all onboarding paperwork, a background check, and vaccine requirements by April 1, 2026
Attend virtual Data Collection Logistics Training and Administration Assessment Training sessions in April 2026
Starting in May, all contractors will practice for, complete, and pass a Test Off with an AIR staff member to assess readiness of assessment administration and pass data collector certification requirements.
In May and throughout June, contractors will be expected to do the following:
Organize paper/pencil student assessments and assessment-related materials (e.g., student class rosters) for all assigned classrooms.
Administer early literacy assessments in assigned elementary school(s) on designated
dates for length of the full school day.
Other responsibilities include:
Audio record assessments and upload files to a secure website (daily); a random selection
of audio recordings will be used to determine reliability of test administration.
Required Qualifications of Data Collector:
Minimum of a bachelor's degree in education, child development, psychology, or related
field, or equivalent knowledge of early childhood education; master's degree preferred.
Demonstrated experience in school-based settings, particularly working with elementary
school-age children. Familiarity with implementing standardized assessment procedures is a plus.
Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain organized files and records.
Comfort and familiarity with using a computer required, including a working knowledge
of Microsoft Windows.
Ability to work well independently and under the direction of project coordinators.
Ability and willingness to drive your own car up to 45-minutes one-way regularly to
reach assigned schools in study districts.
Consent to and pass a background check and fingerprinting process prior to the start of
training, along with any additional required immunizations and entry paperwork needed for assigned district.
Technology and Physical Requirements:
Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PPT,
SharePoint).
Familiarity with completing SharePoint file uploads and filling out electronic surveys.
Demonstrated experience with online video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Teams.
Daily local travel to school sites, and willingness to travel to schools during data
collection windows regardless of weather so long as schools are open.
Please note that travel time will vary depending on location of data collector in relation to assigned school(s).
Communicate through speech and listening.
Read text verbatim from an assessment easel (assessor materials including scripts to give
assessments).
Receive physical package(s) containing training materials and assessor materials for both
pre- and post-test. Must also be able to ship back completed student assessments and
loaned materials after completion of both pre- and post-testing.
Ability to bring assessment materials to school site and keep completed assessments in a
secured lockbox at your home provided by AIR.
Stand, walk, climb stairs.
Kneeling, crouching, sitting on the floor.
Additional Information:
Paid, mandatory, virtual training and certification is required.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of training and successfully
passing a certification test.
Qualified candidates should be available to commit for the full data collection period
(April-June 2026).
Travel time is paid and mileage and from your home and sites’ locations is reimbursed.
Owning a car is required.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.