Institute for Educational Leadership's Education Policy Fellowship Program

EPFP is a ten-month, in-service leadership development program that brings together--in 12 sites across the country--diverse leaders (Fellows) and provides a forum for them to: demystify how policy is made and influenced; learn about key domestic policy issues; explore the connections and collisions between the issues and their champions and/or critics; become skillful discussants with policymakers and stakeholders at all levels; and hone their skills as leaders and partners in collaborative change. Fellows work toward these goals by participating in: (1) Varied learning opportunities (such as seminars, informal discussions, site visits, skill development workshops and individual and/or group projects, (2) Electronic networking and information sharing, (3) Two national conferences--the first focused on leadership (Leadership Forum) and the second on policy (Washington Policy Seminar)--that bring together Fellows from all program sites (about 200 per Fellowship year), and (4) In-depth study--at sites and at the two national conferences--of critical issues facing our nation, providing opportunities to explore common policy issues, options and solutions. Fellows work full-time in education; health and human services; public, private and non-profit sectors; and business and community settings. Fellows remain in their full-time positions while participating in EPFP. Coordinators direct local, on-site EPFP activities.