Exceptions to Program Requirements

Outside Work During Teaching Internship
Additional Course Work
Schedule Adjustment
Changes in School Assignment
Guest Teaching Internship
School Employment During Internship
Memorandum of Understanding
Changes in School Assignment
Guest Student Teaching

As GW works in partnership with schools committed to teacher training, it must recognize the learning needs of the pupils in the classrooms in which GW interns practice. Often, due to lack of understanding about the rigorous demands of the teaching internship, a teacher candidate may shortchange the quality of his/her commitment to the host school and to their teacher preparation by taking on more responsibility then he/she can successfully assume. Often, this takes the form of additional course work or an additional job.

Therefore, OLE recommends that students plan their programs carefully with their advisor and seek financial aid and outside support if needed in order to complete internship requirements. OLE is available to assist a student in reviewing what options are available on campus. In cases where exceptions are warranted, the teacher candidate must file a request through OLE (see Special Consideration Form) providing the rational and supporting documentation. Students must also fill out the Secondary Education Internship Application form. Decisions concerning exceptions to the program's internship requirements are made by the OLE Director in consultation with the Program Director and the student's Advisor. The different situations which apply to exceptions or special requests regarding the teaching internship include:

a) Outside work during the teaching internship,

b) Additional course work beyond the program specifications,

c) Schedule adjustment,

d) Changes in school assignment,

e) Guest teaching internships, and

f) Long term subbing/school employment during internships which are not part of the program specifications.

OLE policy regarding each of these special circumstances is addressed below:

Outside Work During Teaching Internship - OLE views the teaching internship as a time when the teacher candidate gradually assumes responsibility of his/ her assigned cooperating teacher's class. In turn, the cooperating teacher provides support to the intern and trusts the intern to carry out the roles and responsibilities of a teacher. This rationale underscores the point that being a teacher intern requires intense work, intense preparation, and intense focus on the needs of a particular group of pupils. However, when outside work responsibilities inhibit satisfactory growth and GWU's expectations for completion of a supervised teaching experience, the internship will not be continued until the problem is resolved. The Director of OLE in consultation with the intern, cooperating teacher, and university supervisor will decide the best course of action to assist the intern in completing expectations of the internship and to insure that the education of the pupils the intern is assuming responsibility for is not jeopardized. The decision of the OLE Director related to the problems with outside work will be communicated in writing to the intern, cooperating teacher, and university supervisor.

Additional Course Work - Depending on the program, teacher interns may have classes connected to their internship semester. These classes include internship seminars and other content/ specialty area methods courses. Coursework taken beyond these requirements add an additional layer of work which inhibits the intern's full attention to their internship. In situations where exceptions to the additional course work has been granted and problems in completing GWU's exceptions for the internship arise, the intern must decide between taking an incomplete for the internship or for the extra course work. An intern needs written approval from their faculty advisor if enrolled in more than one or more courses in addition to the internship course.

Schedule Adjustment - A student's advisor may request a schedule adjustment in a situation where it is not economically possible for a student to commit to a full semester internship. The Special Request Form is submitted to the OLE with a supporting letter outlining the rationale for requesting the schedule adjustment. State-approved accreditation guidelines will be applied in determining the required number of clock hours.

Changes in School Assignment - Once a placement is confirmed with a school it is considered final and will not be changed to accommodate personal or geographical convenience. In cases, where there is mutual agreement among school principal, cooperating teacher, university supervisor, and intern that a change is necessary, the OLE will act in coordinating a new placement in a different school system.

Guest Teaching Internship - Students who leave the DC metro area due to job commitments before completion of their internship may apply for permission to complete this requirement through another university. The student submits a Special Consideration Form to OLE with their teaching internship application. The student supplies the name of the contact person at the host university. If approved by the Program Advisor, OLE then submits a written request to the Field Placement Director at the host university for a guest student teaching internship placement. Supporting documents are provided which include the student information and teaching internship handbook. Once approved, the OLE Director acts as a liaison in facilitating documentation of successful completion of the internship in accordance with GW standards. Students may be required to supplement additional costs associated with these arrangements.

School Employment During Internship - Students who intend to complete program while employed in a school should request consideration for admittance into the special cohorts (e.g. Teachers 2000) which integrate this opportunity in the curriculum. Students are advised at the time of entry into a program what types of school partnerships are available in their area of study. Students enrolled in programs that do not have special collaborative agreements about internship status while employed should do the following to request a special consideration for their internship:

Step 1: Do not make a commitment at a school site to accept employment. Be clear with school site professionals that internship requirements need to be completed before eligibility for licensure.

Step 2: Inquire about the nature of the position and what the expectations of the assignment are. Document the information about schedule, course content, time commitments and nature of support given at the school.

Step 3: Obtain a Special Consideration Form and complete the information. Attach a detailed description of the request and justification letters from the school site professionals clarifying what support will be provided at the school (e.g. mentor teacher, reduced teaching assignments) to assist you in completing a supervised internship.

Step 4: Submit form with documentation to OLE.

Step 5: OLE will route form through Program Director and Faculty Advisor. Student may be contacted for a three-way conference to further discuss the request. Decision to approve or deny is communicated to the student and school site contact by Director of OLE.

NOTE ONE: The use of long-term substitute teaching as a context for completing internship experiences is not allowed unless candidate is enrolled in a partnership option that provides support for this arrangement (e.g., T-2000, FTT).

NOTE TWO: The teaching internship assignment must be in the content or certification area in which the intern is completing the program.

NOTE THREE: In some cases, a program area may require that a memorandum of understanding be signed by the intern which delineates for the special circumstances the university expectations for the completion of the supervised internship. OLE, in consultation with program faculty, may also require an extended internship during which the intern will receive supervision and support from the university to insure a productive internship experience. In this case, the intern would receive an IPG for their current semester of internship. The extended time frame may occur during the next academic semester; and should not exceed more than one additional semester.

A template of the memo of understanding is included below.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Regarding Teaching Internship Requirements

Being a teacher intern requires intense work, intense preparation, and intense focus on demonstrating new competencies and showing thoughtful and theoretical connections to teaching in the classroom. However, when other commitments, have the potential for inhibiting satisfactory progress of the intern in completing university's expectations for the experience, the internship will require completion of a memorandum of understanding. This process may be recommended for any student who has been granted an exception to the normal requirements for an internship, such as work related responsibilities during internship, additional coursework and other additional responsibilities. The policy regarding exceptions to the teaching internship requirement is attached. The Director of OLE in consultation with the intern, cooperating teacher, and university supervisor will decide the best course of action to assist the intern in completing expectations of the internship. The format for the memorandum of understanding should include the following information:

· Names of participants in the memorandum agreement & school site w/ dates for the “supervised experiences”

· Description of Responsibilities of the Intern for meeting school expectations:
(Include whatever applies for your program)

Ø school profile

Ø class profile

Ø other special assignments not related to teaching

Ø collaborative teaching/working with other professionals in the classroom

· Description of Responsibilities of the Intern for meeting university assignments:
(Include whatever applies for your program)

Ø seminar meetings

Ø portfolio

Ø video taping

Ø unit planning

Ø other required assignments or courses

· University Expectations for completion of supervised internships:

Ø professional growth plan negotiated with school/ cooperating teacher

Ø university supervisor focused formal observations and conferences schedule

Ø lesson / unit planning schedule

Ø assessment and evaluation procedures

Ø reflective writing

Ø mentor/ cooperating teacher supervision commitments and documentation of their observations/assessments/evaluations.

· Signature of Agreement between all participants in the internship both university and school-based professionals.

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