What Does an Education Consultant Do?

Technology is rapidly changing the way people learn, and schools everywhere are adapting to help prepare students to engage in the dynamics of the 21st century. Many schools, families, and educational organizations rely on the expertise of education consultants to influence positive educational change and improve student achievement.

Who Are Education Consultants?

Education consultants are often teachers or administrators who want a break from the daily routine but still wish to remain involved in the field of education. They are passionate about K–12 or higher education and want to positively influence student achievement. Most are looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in how education is delivered and received.

Education consultants offer a diverse skill set that allows them to work with teachers, administrators, and parents at all education levels. They’re detail-oriented and well-organized with superb written and oral communication skills. Education consultants are experienced presenters who can tailor their message to any audience. They offer solutions and connect with students, teachers, and schools to increase chances for student success.

What Education Consultants Do

In general, education consultants provide guidance to those who seek their service, which can include families; schools, including and colleges and universities; and educational organizations.

• Families: Parents want their children to love learning and use their education to succeed. Some families acquire the services of an education consultant to match their child with the right learning environment, which can include public or private school, boarding school, or incorporating supportive remedial services to help students learn. This may be due a shift in grades, a family relocation, or a diagnosed learning disability. Families may also retain education consultants to aid in the evolving college selection and application process. Higher education consultants work with families during the transition from high school to postsecondary education, providing nonbiased expert opinion that can help match students with the right opportunity to best meet their needs.^*
• Schools, Colleges, and Universities: There may be a specific problem that needs a proposed solution or some institutions may request advisory services from education consultants to overhaul programs, policies, and priorities. Education consultants are known to provide aid to school turnaround initiatives and deliver assistance in managing charter schools. They create plans to help improve academic development and address student drop-out rates—such as social learning plans—and help develop curricula for educational initiatives, including special education programs.^†
• Educational Organizations: Businesses that create educational products, such as book publishers and edtech companies, work with education consultants to deliver the right product for schools, students, and teachers. They rely on education consultants’ knowledge of industry best practices and expertise, whether it’s in emerging technology, reading or math, testing, etc., to inform product development from inception.^‡

How to Become an Education Consultant

For some teachers and administrators, taking a break to become an education consultant may only be temporary while others decide to stay in an advisory role. The field of education is becoming increasingly competitive. Education consultants with an advanced degree, such as a Doctor of Education (EdD), will likely earn more than those with a bachelor’s degree. Building expertise in key areas of education like curriculum, instruction, and assessment can also help round out a teacher or administrator’s experience. Walden University’s EdD program with a specialization in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment is designed for education practitioners aspiring to be curriculum experts who can make an impact on student achievement in any educational system.

*Higher Education Consultants Association, Advancing Professionalism in College Counseling, on the internet at www.hecaonline.org.

†Learn.org, How Do I Become an Educational Consultant?, on the internet at http://learn.org/articles/How_Do_I_Become_an_Educational_Consultant.html.

‡R. Bruens, Education Consultant: Career and Salary Information, Teaching Careers, Concordia University, on the internet at https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/teaching-careers/educational-consultant/.