Bilingual Test Administrator

Location: Coachella Valley, CA

Application Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVqU6G6xdwGWAhcKN6s3vbeTjwfBQx2Gojpl1w8g9_huBh9g/viewform

Job Summary:

In partnership with the Coachella Valley Unified School District in California, the University of Chicago Behavioral Insights and Parenting (BIP) Lab is conducting a large-scale research study. As part of the study, the language skills of pre-K and kindergarten children will be assessed at multiple points. We seek individuals local to the Coachella Valley area who can travel to sites to administer language assessments

to pre-K and kindergarten children in English and Spanish.

The study begins in October 2026 and will conclude in June 2027. There will be 2 assessment periods in the course of the study, each lasting 3-4 weeks. We anticipate the first assessment taking place in October-November and the second in May-June. During the assessment periods, staff will work full work weeks, Monday through Friday, largely during standard school day hours (8am-5pm). In between the assessment periods (December-April), test administrators will support data management and other research tasks on a part-time basis. Strong preference will be given to candidates who commit to working throughout the whole study period.

Background checks and medical paperwork required for interaction with children must be completed before the first assessment period. Test administrators must be available for in-person training in Chicago shortly after hire. Transportation costs to training and assessment sites will be compensated.

Approximate Timeline:

Oct. 26 – Oct. 30: In-person training in Chicago. Travel and lodging costs will be compensated.

Nov. 2 – Nov. 20: Full-time on-site test administration and communication with participants at schools in Coachella Valley.

Nov. 23 – Apr. 30: Support with data management, participant communication, and other research tasks on a part-time basis.

May 3 – May 28: Full-time on-site test administration and communication with participants at schools in Coachella Valley.

May 31 – Jun. 30: Support with data management, participant communication, and other research tasks on a part-time basis.

Responsibilities:

● Participate in training on the administration of the Woodcock Johnson IV oral comprehension subtests and other language assessments for young children. This training is planned to be in Chicago. Travel and lodging costs will be compensated.

● Demonstrate mastery of testing materials and administration protocol before administering child assessments.

● Complete paperwork, background checks, and medical immunizations as required by Coachella Valley Unified School District, the State of California, the University of Chicago, and the State of Illinois.

● Travel to partner schools throughout Coachella Valley to administer assessments to pre-K and kindergarten-age children according to pre-determined shift schedules.

● Score assessments and deliver completed materials in accordance with established protocols.

● Validate peer assessment scoring.

● Communicate with an assigned subset of participants about their participation in the study.

● Protect research participant confidentiality and data in accordance with study protocol, the University of Chicago Institutional Review Board guidelines, and Coachella Valley district requirements.

● Represent the University of Chicago BIP Lab at partner sites, interacting with faculty, staff, and children participating in the study.

● Work with University of Chicago BIP Lab research staff to coordinate assessment schedules.

● Assist in helping to refine assessment protocol by communicating observations and experiences in the field.

Competencies:

● High-level reading, writing and speaking proficiency in both English and Spanish languages

● Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

Education, Experience or Certifications:

Education:

● High school diploma from an accredited institution or a GED certificate required

● Bachelor’s degree in an educational field (e.g. education, psychology, speech therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, etc.) preferred

Experience:

● Experience working with preschool and/or early elementary age children in a professional or volunteer capacity, required.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

● Able and willing to travel to research sites

● Valid state driver’s license. Vehicle for transportation to/from testing locations

Required Documents:

● Resume

● Cover letter optional

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some

recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Pay Range

$24-28 depending on experience.

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the

possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

This position is not eligible for benefits.

About the University of Chicago Behavioral Insights and Parenting (BIP) Lab:

The University of Chicago BIP Lab conducts rigorous field experiments in partnership with education institutions across the US and globally to evaluate the impact of cost-effective digital programs that support children’s skill development. The lab’s flagship program is Chat2Learn, a messaging program that guides engaging conversations between caregivers and 3-6-year-old children. The lab has also designed

and evaluated other home-based digital learning tools such as a library app for parent-child shared reading, a curated package of math apps, and a parent messaging program to support child school attendance.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application

process should contact the BIP Lab. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

University of Chicago BIP Lab
Harris School of Public Policy

The principal aim of the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab (BIP Lab) is to understand the science of parent decision-making. The Lab was co-founded in 2014 by Professors Ariel Kalil and Susan Mayer. The BIP Lab focuses on the science of parental decision-making, especially through the lens of behavioral science. We design interventions for parents that can be implemented at a very low cost by service providers and test them using field experiments (randomized control trials) in primarily low-income populations. Research shows that a variety of low-cost, light-touch behavioral supports can optimize the decisions that people make in several key arenas of life, including decisions about health and financial savings. The BIP Lab is dedicated to understanding how such behavioral supports can be used to leverage parental investments to promote children’s development in low-income families. We have successfully applied these tools to parents’ decisions about the amount of time that they invest in educational activities with their children, their children’s attendance at school, and their engagement in their children’s school activities and events.