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TO: Field Placement Sites

SUBJECT: Internship Protocol

Arkansas Tech University and the school districts share a mutual responsibility in this important phase of the development of the emerging professional. Every effort is made to coordinate the ongoing programs of the schools and the operation of the student teaching program so that both entities benefit by having student teachers in those schools. The actual placement is planned and coordinated by the Director of Teacher Education Student Services of Arkansas Tech University and the Director of Staff Development of the Fort Smith Public Schools.

At the first sign of difficulty, the field-based supervisor will document all concerns for the performance of the student teacher and contact the campus-based supervisor immediately. The campus-based and field-based supervisors will meet with all appropriate offices to plan and implement a course of action to redress concerns.

Appropriate offices include the Director of Teacher Education Student Services and the Head of Curriculum & Instruction at Arkansas Tech University, the on-site principal and the Director of Staff Development at the school district.

The campus-based and field-based supervisors will take responsibility for making all of the appropriate offices aware of the difficulty and the plan to redress concerns, as well as documenting progress and keeping appropriate offices informed in a timely manner.

If difficulties cannot be remedied, it is the responsibility of the University to remove or reassign any student teacher whose work is judged by the supervising teacher to jeopardize the educational advancement of the class. Removal will proceed with regard to due process as outlined in Article IV of the Arkansas Tech University Student Handbook.

In case of emergency situations, Arkansas Tech University will have a faculty member on site within 24 hours.