The 2003 Legislative Session approved provisions to allow student interns to be paid while performing the required student teaching component of their degree programs. The School Board of Highlands County Paid Internship Program will be effective beginning the calendar year 2006. The following criteria will be used to qualify interns for the program:

• Must be a final, Level III intern in a degree seeking education program

• The intern must have worked full-time as a contracted employee of the district for at least three consecutive years with at least one (1) year's work experience immediately preceding the paid internship

• The intern will request a Leave of Absence from the current position for the period of the internship

• The intern must be performing the student teaching in one of the district's public schools

• The intern must sign a Statement of Commitment (see Fillable Form), to work three (3) years in one of the district's public schools (or in a position as otherwise agreed upon) immediately following the paid internship

• A Human Resources clerk will generate the ePAF

• The Finance Department will assign the coding

• The district will pay the intern/employee for seven (7) hours per day according to the current Salary Schedule for the appropriate paraprofessional paygrade, step 0

• The intern/employee will maintain the same level of insurance benefits he/she currently receives in the contracted position

• The intern/employee will only be paid for actual days worked during the internship period; accrued vacation, sick or personal leave hours will be frozen and not available for use until the internship period is complete.

• The school bookkeeper will track the intern's attendance each week and submit leave forms to the Payroll Department to dock pay if absent.