THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20202

January 2003

Dear Colleague:

I would like to share with you an announcement of an exciting opportunity for students this summer at the U.S. Department of Education.

This is the second year of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholars Program, which President Bush announced on January 21, 2002. The program was established in commemoration of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his contributions to civil and human rights in America. Under this initiative, continuing juniors, seniors, or graduate students are eligible to apply for an eight-week, paid internship in the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C. We expect to select up to ten students for this prestigious honor and opportunity. The students will be placed either in my office or in the office of one of my Assistant Secretaries, where they will gain experience in policy analysis and development. It is an exceptional way for outstanding students to learn about the federal role in education and to experience the value of government service.

Enclosed is a Fact Sheet outlining the specifics of the Scholars Program. The recruitment announcement is available on the following Federal job information web sites: www.ed.gov; www.usajobs.opm.gov; and www.studentjobs.gov. I hope you will be able to publicize this opportunity on your campus and encourage many of your best and brightest students to apply.

Thank you for your assistance with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholars Program and for your commitment to our nation's students.

Sincerely,

/s/

Rod Paige

Enclosure

Our mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholars Program Fact Sheet

Program Description:

Up to ten outstanding undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in education policy or public policy and administration will be selected to participate in the program this summer.

Selected students will be designated as Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholars and will receive temporary Federal appointments in the excepted service for an eight-week period,
June 16-August 8, 2003. This time period may be extended for an additional four weeks on a case-by-case basis. Scholars will be hired at grades GS-4, 5, 7, or 9, depending on qualifications and education level completed (corresponding pay range: $10.86 to $18.40 per hour).

Scholars will be assigned to the Office of the Secretary and the immediate offices of the Assistant Secretaries of Education at the Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Scholars will assist with a variety of projects related to critical education programs and initiatives, analysis, policy development, legal, or other work designed to provide developmental experiences and exposure to government and public policy in a Cabinet -level Department.

Eligibility Requirements:

Note: Graduating baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral students who are not enrolled and continuing their education in the academic semester following the summer internship are not "continuing students" and are not eligible for this program.

Students must be in good academic standing (academic transcripts required). Two academic references will also be a required part of the student's application.

Recruitment Procedures:

It will be posted on www.ed.gov, on the U. S. Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) USAJobs website (www.usajobs.opm.gov), and on the new www.studentjobs.gov website.

The announcement will be open on January 8, 2003, and close on February 21, 2003. Scholars will be notified by March 31, 2003, of their acceptance to the program.

Applications:

Applicants may also include a preference for an area of interest within the Department. Possible areas include: elementary and secondary education, vocational education, postsecondary education, civil rights, research, special education, English language acquisition, education innovation, teacher quality, legislation, and technology.

The U. S. Department of Education's Human Resources Services will review the application packages for legal, regulatory, and program requirements.

Applications from eligible students will be referred to a panel for review of letters, essays, academic references, and transcripts. The panel will develop a list of the top
25-30 candidates. Applications will be evaluated based on academic achievement, the quality of thought exemplified in the letter and essay, and the strength of the candidate's interest in education policy or public policy and administration. A second panel will be convened to make final selections from the top group of candidates.

Expectations: