Internship Information
An internship gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a professional setting while exploring a career of interest. Students work alongside experienced professionals, develop workplace skills, and apply what they are learning in the classroom to real-world situations. Internships help students build confidence, strengthen communication and teamwork skills, and better prepare for college, career training, or future employment. Students must meet any qualifications established by Columbia Public Schools, and be enrolled in an internship class.
- Internship Course Overview
- Internship Overview/Expectations
- Internship Process: Step by Step
- Internship Program Outline/Timeline
Internship Course Overview
Columbia Public Schools Internship Course
The Internship Course for all 12th grade EEE students and 12th grade AVID students provides students with the opportunity to participate in supervised, real-world workplace experiences aligned to career interests and workforce readiness standards. Students earn academic credit through documented participation, reflection, and evaluation while developing essential employability skills.
Eligibility
- Students must meet all school, district, and community partner eligibility requirements.
- Enrollment is subject to district approval and placement availability.
- Students must be enrolled in ASI -EEE Internship for all students, including AVID.
- Students must remain in good academic and behavioral standing.
- Students must receive a letter of recommendation from a district employee to participate in the Internship Course.
Time Commitment
- 45 hours per semester or 90 hours per school year.
- All hours must be accurately documented and verified in cooperation with the Internship Sponsor and the teacher of record.
Internship Placement Requirements
Placements must align with workforce development and career readiness standards aligned to DESE Real-World Learning Quality Indicators.
- Engage in authentic, real-world experiences connected to career pathways and labor market needs.
- Develop and demonstrate employability skills, including professional communication, collaboration, punctuality, responsibility, and ethical behavior.
- Apply academic knowledge and technical skills in real workplace settings.
- Receive adult mentorship and supervision from qualified professionals.
- Participate in reflection and evaluation to connect learning to career and postsecondary goals.
- Demonstrate career awareness, self-advocacy, and postsecondary readiness.
- Follow workplace safety practices, policies, and professional expectations.
- Be included in the ICAP plan for the student.
- Internship work must be meaningful, supervised, and appropriate for high school students.
Transportation
Students must provide their own transportation to and from the internship site.
Documentation and Academic Oversight
- Students must work with their Internship teacher of record to learn and follow all internship documentation procedures throughout the time they are enrolled in the course.
- Required documentation may include agreements, hour logs, evaluations, reflections, and any additional paperwork required by the Internship Sponsor.
- Failure to complete documentation and/or other course requirements may result in loss of credit.
View the Columbia Public Schools Internship Record Document (opens in a new window)
Supervision, Conduct, and Removal
- Students must follow all school district policies and internship site rules.
- A student may be removed from an internship at any time at the discretion of the Internship Sponsor and/or the Director of Workforce Development.
- Removal from a placement may impact course credit.
Additional Requirements
- Students must comply with confidentiality expectations outlined by the Internship Sponsor.
- Safety training, onboarding, health screening, drug testing, or background checks may be required by the internship partner.
- Students are required to participate in the Internship Showcase at the end of the school year.
Credit and Grading
- This course is eligible for academic credit.
- Credit is earned through completion of required hours, documentation, assignments, and satisfactory performance.
Parents and Guardians
- Support students in connecting to opportunities, arranging transportation, and understanding expectations.
- Monitor the student’s experience and encourage reflection.
- Provide input to the school teacher or coordinator if issues arise.
- Sign the district parental agreement and release.
Internship Overview/Expectations
Columbia Public Schools Internship Course
The Internship Course for all 12th grade EEE students and 12 grade AVID students provides students with the opportunity to participate in supervised, real-world workplace experiences aligned to career interests and workforce readiness standards. Students earn academic credit through documented participation, reflection, and evaluation, while developing essential employability skills.
Eligibility
- Students must meet all school, district, and community partner eligibility requirements.
- Enrollment is subject to district approval and placement availability.
- Students must be enrolled in ASI -EEE Internship (for all students, including AVID).
- Students must remain in good academic and behavioral standing.
- Students must receive a letter of recommendation from a district employee to participate in the Internship Course.
Time Commitment
- 45 hours per semester OR 90 hours per school year.
- All hours must be accurately documented and verified in cooperation with the Internship Sponsor and the teacher of record.
Internship Placement Requirements
Placements must align with workforce development and career readiness standards aligned to DESE Real-World Learning Quality Indicators.
- Engage in authentic, real-world experiences connected to career pathways and labor market needs.
- Develop and demonstrate employability skills, including professional communication, collaboration, punctuality, responsibility, and ethical behavior.
- Apply academic knowledge and technical skills in real workplace settings.
- Receive adult mentorship and supervision from qualified professionals.
- Participate in reflection and evaluation to connect learning to career and postsecondary goals.
- Demonstrate career awareness, self-advocacy, and postsecondary readiness.
- Follow workplace safety practices, policies, and professional expectations.
- Be included in the ICAP plan for the student.
Internship work must be meaningful, supervised, and appropriate for high school students.
Transportation
- Students must provide their own transportation to and from the internship site.
Documentation & Academic Oversight
- Students must work with their Internship teacher of record to learn and follow all internship documentation procedures throughout the time they are enrolled in the course.
- Required documentation may include agreements, hour logs, evaluations, reflections, and any additional paperwork required by the Internship Sponsor.
- Failure to complete documentation and/or other course requirements may result in loss of credit.
Internship Record Document (opens in a new window)
Supervision, Conduct, & Removal
- Students must follow all school district policies and internship site rules.
- A student may be removed from an internship at any time at the discretion of the Internship Sponsor and/or the Director of Workforce Development.
- Removal from a placement may impact course credit.
Additional Requirements
- Students must comply with confidentiality expectations outlined by the Internship Sponsor.
- Safety training, onboarding, health screening, drug testing or background checks may be required by the internship partner.
- Students are required to participate in the Internship Showcase, at the end of the school year.
Credit & Grading
- This course is eligible for academic credit.
- Credit is earned through completion of required hours, documentation, assignments, and satisfactory performance.
Parents / Guardians
- Support students in connecting to opportunities, arranging transportation, and understanding expectations.
- Monitor student’s experience and encourage reflection.
- Provide input to the school teacher or coordinator if issues arise.
- Sign district parental agreement and release.
Internship Process: Step by Step
Student Internship Process: Step by Step
1. Find Your Internship Interest
- Think about what you want to learn or explore.
- Ask your teacher, counselor, or program coordinator for ideas.
- Complete a Missouri Connections Career Cluster Inventory to learn more about your interests. Research the careers in your clusters, and explore employment opportunities.
2. Employer Outreach & Interest
- Send resume and letter of interest to your EEE Internship Teacher at your school.
- Upon approval of your resume and letter of interest, you’ll receive a link to apply.
- Once applied your teacher will be in contact with you about opportunities.
- Signed Parental Permission form, signed by parent and student.
3. Submit Your Application Materials to the Employer
- Send your resume and letter of interest.
- Some internships may have an application form to complete.
- Follow up with your teacher if you do not hear from them about the next steps.
- Some internships may require informational meetings, signed documents or a health screening.
4. Interviewing for Internships
- Respond promptly when the employer reaches out to confirm interview times.
- Communicate in a timely manner to the employer in regards to times and format of the interview.
- Learn what they expect from their interns.
- Let them know your availability and what you plan to learn from this internship.
5. Internship Begins
- Start your internship! Congrats!
- Track your hours using the district provided internship document, learn on the job, and ask questions.
6. Monitoring & Support
- Check-ins with your supervisor or teacher/coordinator to make sure everything is going smoothly.
- Get help if challenges come up. Stay in contact with your ASI-EEE Internship teacher.
- Keep your supervisor informed of days you will not be available, communication is important!
Internship Program Outline/Timeline
Columbia Public Schools Internship Program Outline
Overview & Goals
The internship program’s purpose is to give students meaningful work-based learning aligned to their interests and career goals; to provide real benefit to business/industry partners; and to strengthen school-community / academia partnerships.
Outcomes:
- Students gain employability skills, content & technical skills.
- Businesses get motivated interns and exposure to tomorrow’s workforce.
- Schools deepen relevance of instruction and help students with transitions to work or postsecondary education.
Key Stakeholders & Their Roles / Responsibilities
District Leadership / Central Office (Director of Workforce Development)
- Design program framework, policies, resources (handbooks, toolkits, evaluation forms); ensure alignment with district goals.
- EEE Coordinator works with DWFD to identify, collaborate, and cultivate community/business/academic partners (MOUs).
- Manage application, selection, placements, and matching process.
- Provide training/support for school/site coordinators, mentors, and teachers.
- Monitor program quality, outcomes, and compliance (Memorandum of Understanding, safety, labor laws, liability, data tracking).
- Communicate and share opportunities with community stakeholders.
- Collect and use feedback/data for continuous improvement.
- Meet with Katie, Josh, Shanna, Matt, WFD Admin, AVID Site Coordinator, AVID 11/12 Teachers, EEE 12 Teachers, Counselors.
School / Site-Based Staff (EEE 12 Teachers, AVID 11/12 Teachers, AVID Site Coordinator, Counselors, WFD Building Admin)
- Inform students about internship opportunities; help them understand application requirements. (EEE 12 Teachers and AVID 11/12 Teachers, AVID Site Coordinator)
- Guide students in career interest identification, goal setting, resume/interview preparation. (EEE 12 Teachers and AVID 11/12 Teachers)
- Help schedule internships so they align with student schedules, credits, transportation, etc. (Counselors)
- Monitor student progress and provide support if issues arise. (EEE 12 Teachers, WFD Building Admin.)
- Collect required paperwork, permissions, assessments, reflections. (EEE 12 Teachers)
- Evaluate student performance (with input from mentors). (EEE 12 Teachers)
Students / Interns
- Identify interests & career goals; apply for internships (Letter of interest and Resume).
- Commit to the expectations (hours, behavior, professionalism).
- Complete all required paperwork, safety training, orientation.
- Maintain worksite logs/reflections; meet regularly with mentor and school coordinator.
- Demonstrate reliability, initiative, professionalism.
- Reflect on learning; produce artifacts (portfolio, project, presentation) as required.
Business / Industry / Academia / Sponsors
- Provide meaningful work experiences related to student interests; define scope of intern’s tasks.
- Provide orientation, supervision, feedback, mentor interns in both technical and soft skills.
- Communicate expectations clearly (schedule, dress, safety, performance).
- Coordinate with school/district on student evaluation and compliance (e.g. liability, confidentiality).
- Be responsive to issues (attendance, performance) and work through them with students / school.
- Where possible, provide exposure beyond just tasks: job shadowing, guest lectures, campus visits, networking.
Parents / Guardians
- Support students in connecting to opportunities, arranging transportation, and understanding expectations.
- Monitor student’s experience and encourage reflection.
- Provide input to the school coordinator if issues arise.
- Sign district parental agreement and release.
Timeline (Annual Cycle)
Here is a timeline (assuming internship period of one semester or equivalent).
January – February
- District leadership updates program materials, partner database; reaches out to potential new partners.
- School staff begin informing students of upcoming internship opportunities, schedule info sessions.
- Student applications become available.
March
- Deadline for student applications.
- Partner sign-ups and site commitment deadlines.
- Screening & matching process.
- Student & mentor orientation scheduling.
April
- Finalize placements; scheduling/transportation logistics.
- Orientation sessions for students & mentors.
- Paperwork & safety checks complete.
- Showcase Poster Presentations (Late April – Early May).
May / Early Summer
- Team meets to discuss overview of the semester (WFD Director, WFD Admin, Counselor, AVID Site Coordinator, EEE & AVID 12 Teachers).
- If summer internships are offered, internships begin.
- Otherwise, prepare for fall internships: ensure school schedules accommodate internship periods.
August
- For fall internships: internship begins.
- Check-ins start.
Mid-Term (e.g. October or November)
- Midpoint evaluation & progress review.
- Address challenges.
December
- Team meets to discuss overview of the semester (WFD Director, WFD Admin, Counselor, AVID Site Coordinator, EEE & AVID 12 Teachers).
End of Term (December / January)
- Internship ends or extends to the second semester.
- Final evaluations.
- Student reflections/portfolio/presentations.
- Recognition event.
- Collect feedback; data analysis.
Spring (March / April)
- For spring internships: a similar cycle begins anew.
- Begin planning for next year: revise materials/policies based on feedback.
Success Measures / Indicators
Some metrics to track whether the program is working:
- Number of students participating; number of partner organizations.
- Student satisfaction (surveys), mentor satisfaction.
- Skills gained (self-reflection).
- Post-internship outcomes: job offers, further education, improved career clarity.
- Partner’s feedback about value, capacity to host interns.
- Any retention of interns into post-secondary programs or as employees.
Contact Information
Katie Siegel
Director - Workforce Development
Aslin Administration Building