Section 228.73 - Internship(a) While participating in an internship, a candidate must hold an intern or probationary certificate that is effective on or before the assignment start date of the internship and is valid for the entire duration of the internship. The educator preparation program (EPP) must verify and document that the candidate's intern or probationary certificate is active prior to the start of the internship assignment.(b) An internship must be for a minimum of one full school year for the classroom teacher assignment or assignments that match the certification category or categories for which the candidate is prepared by the EPP.(c) An EPP may permit an internship of up to 30 school days less than the required minimum for parental leave, military leave, illness, bereavement leave, or if the late hire date is after the first day of the school year.(d) The beginning date of an internship for the purpose of field supervision is the first day of instruction with students in the classroom for the school or district in which the internship takes place.(e) An internship assignment shall not be less than an average of four hours each day in the subject area and grade level of certification sought. The average includes intermissions and recesses but does not include conference and lunch periods. An EPP may permit an additional internship assignment of less than an average of four hours each day only if all of the following are met:(1) the employing school or district notifies the candidate and the EPP in writing that an assignment of less than four hours will be required;(2) the primary assignment is not less than an average of four hours each day in the subject area and grade level of certification sought;(3) the EPP is approved to offer preparation in the certification category required for the additional assignment;(4) the EPP provides ongoing support for each assignment as prescribed in Subchapter F of this chapter (relating to Support for Candidates During Required Clinical Experiences); and(5) the EPP provides coursework and training for each assignment to adequately prepare the candidate to be effective in the classroom.(f) An EPP may recommend an additional internship if:(1) the EPP certifies that the first internship was not successful, the EPP has developed a plan to address any deficiencies identified by the candidate, the candidate's field supervisor, and/or the candidate's mentor, and the EPP implements the plan during the additional internship; or(2) the EPP certifies that the first internship was successful and that the candidate is making satisfactory progress toward completing the EPP before the end of the additional internship.(g) An EPP must provide ongoing support to a candidate as described in Subchapter F of this chapter (relating to Support for Candidates During Required Clinical Experiences) for the full term of the initial and any additional internship, unless, prior to the expiration of that term:(1) a standard certificate is issued to the candidate during any additional internship under an intern or probationary certificate;(2) the candidate resigns, is non-renewed, or is terminated by the school or district;(3) the candidate is discharged or is released from the EPP;(4) the candidate withdraws from the EPP;(5) the candidate is a late hire and fails to meet the pre-internship requirements within 90 business days of assignment in accordance with §228.55 of this title (relating to Late Hire Candidates); or(6) the internship assignment does not meet the requirements described in this subchapter.(h) If the candidate leaves the internship assignment for any of the reasons identified in subsection (g) of this section:(1) the EPP, the campus or district personnel, and the candidate must inform each other within one calendar week of the candidate's last day in the assignment; and(2) the TEA must receive the certificate deactivation request with all related documentation from the EPP within two calendar weeks of the candidate's last day of the assignment in a format determined by the TEA.(i) The EPP must communicate the requirements in subsection (h) of this section to candidates and campus or district personnel prior to the assignment start date.(j) An internship is successful when the candidate demonstrates proficiency in each of the educator standards for the assignment and the field supervisor and campus supervisor recommend to the EPP that the candidate should be recommended for a standard certificate. If either the field supervisor or campus supervisor do not recommend that the candidate should be recommended for a standard certificate, the person who does not recommend the candidate must provide documentation (e.g., evidence of failure to demonstrate proficiency in educator standards, evidence of failure to meet program requirements, evidence of failure to adhere to campus policies) supporting the lack of recommendation to the candidate and either the field supervisor or campus supervisor.(k) An internship for a Trade and Industrial Workforce Training certificate may be at an accredited institution of higher education if the candidate teaches not less than an average of four hours each day, including intermissions and recesses, in a dual credit career and technical instructional setting as defined by Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter D, of this title (relating to Dual Credit Partnerships Between Secondary Schools and Texas Public Colleges).19 Tex. Admin. Code § 228.73
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 20, May 17, 2024, TexReg 3540, eff. 9/1/2024