1910 – Student Internship/Practicum Policy
Educator, Administrator, and Counselor - Adopted 02-08-11


Table of Contents

1. Purpose
2. Policy
3. Procedure
3.1. Definitions
3.2. Student Teaching
3.3. Requirements for all Student Intern Programs
3.4. Paid Interns
3.5. Administrative Internship
3.6. Counselor Practicum/Internship Assignments
3.7. Apprentice Student Educational Experience (SEE) Program
3.8. Failure to Comply

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1.  Purpose:

It is the intent of the Washington County School District to promote and support student educational experiences within its facilities.  WCSD is committed to working with our academic institutional partners to optimize the educational experiences of students who are training to become professional educators, counselors, and administrators.

2.  Policy: 

Due to issues of liability, confidentiality, compliance, educational environment, all WCSD employees, administrators, participating schools, faculty, instructors, and participating students are required to follow procedures established by administration to manage and monitor student teacher and internship assignments for educators, administrators, counselors, and other programs. Internships, practicum, clinical, and student teaching assignments are temporary arrangements and may end at any time at the sole administrative discretion of the Washington County School District. 

3.  Procedure:

3.1.  Definitions:

3.1.1.  “Internship” shall refer to the following three types of experiences:

•    "Administrative Internship” means 450 or more hours of supervised clinical experiences to include a minimum of 200 hours in a school setting which offers the opportunity of working with licensed principals, students, faculty, classified employees, parents, and patrons required by Administrative Rule R277-505-4. 

•    “Counselor Internship” means the 600 hour field experience required by Administrative Rule R277-506-5. The required hours may be sub-divided into two 300-hour segments at the elementary and secondary level.  Counselor internships are unpaid and must not be completed on District paid contract time unless the applicant is competitively selected for a paid internship. 

•    “Student Teacher Internship” means a supervised "hands-on" experience to prepare aspiring teachers, to perform assignments and in doing so act, or work as the “teacher of record.”  All university/college course work must be completed prior to participation in the program.  If selected, teacher interns will receive a non-compensated teaching assignment at the start of the school year, under the direction of a school mentor teacher and a collegiate supervising professor.  Interns are expected to attend in-service training as scheduled and Professional Learning Community (PLC) training and preparation activities as scheduled, in uncompensated status.  Upon successful completion of the minimum 12-week student teaching assignment and all other educational and program requirements for licensure in the state of Utah, a student teacher intern may be converted to full time temporary status with salary and benefits according to District Policy through the end of the contract year.  This action will be contingent upon receipt of documentation from the candidate’s college or university department head verifying that the candidate has completed all requirements and is being recommended for licensure in the State of Utah.   

3.1.2.  “Internship Committee” shall consist of the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Professional Development, the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education, the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education, and a coordinator or point of contact for the applicable District program (counselor, administrative, or student services).

3.1.3.   “On-site Supervisor” means the teacher, counselor or administrator selected and willing to supervise, counsel, and evaluate a student intern’s or student teacher’s performance.

•    “On-site Supervisor” will hold appropriate qualifying licensure.
•    The "On-site Supervisor" will only supervise one intern at a time.
•    The "On-site Supervisor" will schedule regular meetings with the student for feedback and evaluation.

3.1.4.  "Counselor Practicum" means a practical, usually simulated, application of previously studied theory, monitored by a professional in the field required by Administrative Rule R277-506-1.  The required hours are determined by the educational institution.  Counselor practicum’s are unpaid and if the applicant is a current employee, the practicum must not replace or interfere with assigned position or work expectations.

3.1.5.   “Student Teacher” means a college student who is teaching without compensation under the direct supervision of a certified teacher in order to qualify for a degree in education. Student teachers are not the “teacher of record.” 

3.2.  Student Teaching:

3.2.1.  Priority placement consideration will be given to students who submit the applicable Student Teacher Application/Agreement to the appropriate administrative office on or before April 1st in the school year preceding the requested assignment.  Students who submit the application after April 1st will be considered on an availability basis.

•  Secondary Student Teacher Application/Agreement (District Form 146) must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education.

•  Elementary Student Teacher Application/Agreement (District Form 147) must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education.

•  Special Education Student Teacher Application/Agreement (District Form 148) must be submitted to the Director of Special Education.

3.2.2.  A student teacher must agree to conduct his/herself professionally and in accordance with all applicable WCSD policies and procedures and comply with the on-sight supervisor’s directives.  

3.2.3.  Student teachers must apply for and receive a temporary Utah Student Teacher license issued by the Utah State Office of Education prior to beginning a student teacher assignment. 

3.2.4.  Student teachers must not be employed by Washington County School District in any other capacity during their assignment as a student teacher. 

3.2.5.  All student teacher assignments are arranged by the WCSD District Office.  The applicant must not solicit participation as a student teacher by arranging an assignment directly with a principal or staff member at a school.

3.3.  Requirements for all Student Intern Programs

3.3.1.  Students interested in internship assignments must be currently enrolled in nationally or state accredited programs.

3.3.2.  All applicants applying for an internship must complete a background check in accordance with requirements established by the Utah State Office of Education.

3.3.3.  All students and interns must receive a Utah Student Teaching or Intern license issued by the Utah State Office of Education.

3.3.4.  With the exception of a capstone class, student interns must complete all required course work prior to participating in an internship program.

3.3.5.  Student ID name badges must be worn in place of employee badges while completing internships.

3.3.6.  Priority placement consideration will be given to intern student candidates who submit the application to the Human Resource Department on or before April 1st in the school year preceding the requested assignment.  Students who submit the application after April 1st will be considered on an availability basis.  The form must be signed by the applicant, and their university administrative intern advisor.

3.3.7.  All internship experiences must be coordinated through the District Human Resource Department. Applicants must not solicit participation for internships by arranging an assignment directly with a principal or staff member assigned to a school location.

3.3.8.  The Human Resource Director will meet with the appropriate members of the Internship Committee in consultation with the proposed supervising principal prior to placement of a student on an internship assignment.

3.3.9.  Principals have the right to reject or accept a proposed placement and are authorized to interview applicants prior to finalizing a placement.

3.3.10.  An intern teacher must agree to conduct his/herself professionally and in accordance with all applicable WCSD policies and procedures and comply with the on-sight supervisor’s directives.  

3.3.11.  The District reserves the right to end the intern or student teacher relationship at the District’s sole discretion.

3.4.  Paid Interns

3.4.1.  Paid internship experiences must be competitively selected from eligible student candidates.

3.4.2.  Paid internship applicants must meet program educational requirements and hold a temporary Utah Intern license in accordance with applicable Utah State Administrative Rules before a selection can be finalized.

3.5.  Administrative Internship

3.5.1.  Administrative internship hours must not be completed during contract time unless approved in advance by the Internship Committee.  Administrative interns must complete a Student Intern Program Application/Agreement (District Form 150).

3.5.2.  Administrative internships are unpaid and must not be completed on district paid contract time unless approved in advance by the Internship Committee.

3.5.3.  Administrative interns occupying district paid positions with added flexibility or who are not engaged in direct student supervision, such as staff developers or teachers on special assignment, must identify program flexibility in advance by completion of the submission of the MANDATORY Administrative Internship Program Plan (District Form 145). 

3.5.4.  If contract time is approved such participation MUST absolutely not interfere with the applicant’s teaching or job assignment.  Principals have the discretion to end intern hours completed during contract time if he or she determines there is a conflict or a distraction from completion of teaching or other job duties.

3.5.5.  Schools will be limited to no more than one administrative internship assignment at any given time.  Multiple administrative internship assignments at a single location distract from the school administrator’s ability to complete contract expectations and must not be allowed.

3.6.  Counselor Practicum/Internship Assignments

3.6.1.  Counselor Practicum/Internship applicants must complete a District School Counselor Practicum Application/Agreement (District Form 149) prior to assignment and thereby agree to comply with all applicable school and WCSD policies.

3.6.2.  All applicants applying for a counselor practicum must complete a background check in accordance with requirements established by the Utah State Office of Education.  Counselor internship applicants must hold a temporary Utah Intern license issued by the Utah State Office of Education.  CACTUS records will be verified prior to assignment.

3.6.3.  If the applicant is a current employee of Washington County School District the Counselor Practicum/Internship assignment must not interfere with teaching or other assignments.  

3.6.4.  With the assigned administrator or principal’s approval a practicum applicant may use scheduled “preparation” time for the purpose of completion of a portion of practicum hours.  If “preparation” time is approved for practicum hour completion, it must not interfere with assigned responsibilities or attendance expectations, to include all contract and staff meeting requirements.   

3.6.5.  Paid counselor interns receive no more than .5 FTE of the basic first step of the TT schedule for full time employment.  Current employees may receive no more that .5 FTE of their current salary and step.  A MAXIMUM of 50% of actual time worked may be in paid status, the remaining time must be uncompensated.

3.6.6.  Practicum/internship assignments may end at any time at the District’s sole discretion. 

3.6.7.  Schools will be limited to no more than one counselor practicum/intern assignment per school year.

3.7.  Apprentice Student Educational Experience (SEE) Program

3.7.1.  The Apprentice program is a cooperative educational endeavor between the candidate’s college/university and Washington County School District, designed to enhance a prospective teacher’s opportunity for an applied practical classroom teaching experience.  To be eligible for participation, candidates must be in good standing with a 3.0 GPA or better and must have completed all academic course work.

3.7.2.  To be eligible, all apprentice participants must complete the District Dixie State College SEE Apprentice Program Addendum/Agreement (District Form 151) acknowledging agreement with the following conditions of participation:

•    Will not engage in other employment that conflicts with apprentice program, to include substitute employment.

•    Perform duties as outlined by the on-site supervisor and school principal.

•    Perform duties for a minimum of 3.5 hours each workday.
 
•    Be released from work in sufficient time to attend classes at Dixie College.

•    Complete all additional practicum and student teaching assignments as required in the DSC Education program to include a minimum 10-week student teaching assignment as scheduled.

•    Receive an approve stipend for work beyond 25 practicum/student teaching days.  Apprentice participants are not paid for practicum or student teaching assignments.

•    Apprentice participants are allocated up to five (5) sick/vacation days at no deduction in the approved stipend.

•    Participate in all school activities and programs to the extent that they do not conflict with college classes.

•    Apprentice participants serve under a temporary agreement that may end at any time at the sole administrative discretion of the Washington County School District.

3.8.  Failure to comply with the terms, limitations, and conditions of this policy may result in termination of the employment of any current Washington County School District employee participating in any of the above programs.