Research Assistant, Early Childhood Assessor (Greater Detroit, Michigan Area)

The Marsico Institute for Early Learning is housed in the Morgridge College of Education (MCE) at the University of Denver. We have dedicated ourselves to improving learning environments and outcomes for children, birth to age 8. We identify the best in early learning research, practice, and policy, and we deliver that information at just the point it will be useful to academics, practitioners, policymakers, and parents — the people who can create and implement changes to improve the lives of young children. The quality of relationships and learning opportunities that young children experience can set the stage for what they will be able to accomplish throughout the rest of their lifetimes.  

Position Summary

The Marsico Institute is accepting applications for Early Childhood Assessors. These assessors will work as part of a team for an efficacy research study implementing and evaluating an early math intervention under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigators and Project Director. They will use a standardized assessment tool, the Research-based Early Math Assessment (REMA), to collect one-on-one baseline and post-intervention assessment data on preschool student knowledge and skills along research-based developmental progressions. 

This position involves driving or commuting to sites in and around Oakland and Wayne counties in Michigan, assessing students using a computer adaptive test, and interviewing students with a standardized protocol.  Assessors must videotape each assessment and review these recordings to verify data accuracy. All candidates will be required to fully participate in multiple in-person and/or virtual training sessions, fidelity work, inter-rater reliability training sessions in Wayne and/or Oakland counties in Michigan.  

This is a temporary, grant-funded position to begin work on or after March 24, 2025 through June 6, 2025, or until all student data has been collected. Assessors must be available to travel and assess children at multiple school sites in Oakland and Wayne Counties in Michigan between 7:00 am and 3:30 pm at least 3 days per week Monday through Thursday (access to vehicle and adherence to DU Driving Procedures, including the successful completion of a driving background check and online driving safety course required).  

Required training for assessors will take place at a TBD location in the Greater Detroit Area at the following dates and times. Assessors must fully attend all training sessions; failure to attend any sessions in their entirety may result in immediate separation. 

• Required Training Sessions: March 31, 2025 – April 4, 2025; 8:30am – 4:30pm ET; Greater Detroit Location TBD 

• Required Certification Timeline: Initial round certification video and material due by April 11, 2025 4:00pm ET. Assessors cannot begin data collection until they have passed certification. 

To continue in this position, following training sessions, you will be required to pass a certification process demonstrating you are able to reliably conduct and code the REMA with fidelity to the instrument. The successful candidate must demonstrate proficiency of a minimum of 85% accuracy of REMA administration and coding on all portions of the assessment to achieve certification.  

Candidates will have two attempts to complete the certification process outlined above. If certification is not achieved after two rounds, the candidate will not be permitted to move forward in this role. 

This is a temporary, non-benefited position not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.

Essential Functions

• Conduct one-on-one student assessments using the Research-based Early Math Assessment. 
• Verify data collected. 
• Clean and code data. 
• Upload assessment and video data daily. 
• Participate fully in fidelity work and inter-rater reliability training.