Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has embarked on a comprehensive restructuring of its secondary schools in order to better prepare students for a fluid global marketplace.  Students in M-DCPS, by participating in a career academy, are being exposed to high-level content knowledge and skills that meet the needs of the 21st century emerging industries; hence, creating a highly qualified workforce.

The cornerstone of the restructuring plan is the creation of career academies – small learning communities within our large comprehensive high schools that are comprised of a group of students taught by a team of teachers who deliver a college preparatory curriculum with a career theme.   Partnerships with businesses, the community, and local colleges and universities, provide additional resources to the schools in order to improve student motivation and achievement.  Students in their junior or senior year have the opportunity to be involved in an internship aligned to their respective career academy.

The Career Experience Opportunity (CEO) was created as a result of the District’s Secondary School Reform Initiative. CEO serves as an opportunity to engage business and community leaders to expand learning through internships.  High school students enrolled in a career academy have the opportunity to participate an internship where they are exposed to an overview of the entire organization and acquire knowledge and skills in their particular career field.   The ultimate goal of this internship is to make high school relevant to students, provide them with real-life work experience, and prepare them to compete in the new global workplace.

SUMMARY:

The Career Experience Opportunity (CEO) internship provides a new generation of interns with gained experience in a professional field. M-DCPS Career Academy students are able to apply the knowledge and skills they learned in the classroom to the profession they studied. Students are exposed to a bird’s-eye view of the company and are given specific projects to compliment the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the particular field. CEO interns can solidify their career interests, network with business contacts, and make decisions that will help shape their future.

ELIGIBILITY:	Juniors or Seniors in a Miami-Dade County Public School Career Academy
PREREQUISITE:	1. Junior or Senior must be enrolled in an approved Career Academy aligned to a profession. 2. Juniors or Seniors must have completed the majority of the courses in their career academy. 3.  The CEO Intern must be proficient in “business etiquette” and soft skills.
SEMESTER TERM:	One semester course with a minimum of five hours per week (40-45 hours per nine weeks) and is repeatable one time only
Credit:	.5 Honors credit
GPA Requirement (weighted):  2.0                          Conduct Requirement:  C or above
Attendance Requirement:  Student may acquire no more than five unexcused absences during internship term.
Required Documents:			All required documents must be completed, executed, and returned to the appropriate personnel:
			Student’s responsibility:
			Authorization and Acknowledgement of Risk	Field Trip Permission Request Form	Time sheet
			Business Partner’s responsibility:
			Cooperative Agreement	Business Mentor Interim & Final Assessment Forms
Accidental Insurance Required:   Proof of Insurance

The CEO internship is a privilege and an essential component of every career academy. The student intern is not entitled to wages or a promise of employment at the completion of the CEO internship. All stakeholders (students, school staff and business mentors) must plan accordingly, and be cognizant of and comply with all CEO requirements, rules and procedures. 

Non-Negotiable Internship Rules and Procedures

The student agrees to complete all the CEO Requirements and the following Rules and Procedures:

1. Acquire knowledge in their field of study, “business etiquette,” and soft skills;
2. Arrange transportation from school to the CEO internship site and from the site to home; and possess appropriate auto insurance, if the student drives;
3. Resolve scheduling issues prior to accepting an interview and internship;
4. Study the company’s purpose and goals and be prepared for the interview/internship, use the CEO Clearinghouse, and accept the first position offered;
5. Work the entire length of the internship and follow the work schedule as assigned by the business mentor;
6. Complete all assignments with eagerness to learn, keep daily records, comply with the business practices and procedures, and turn in the required information to the teacher of record;
7. Ask appropriate questions, speak well, act in a professional manner, and dress to succeed in their field;
8. Observe the M-DCPS student attendance policy and Student Code of Conduct.
9. Send a letter of appreciation to the business partner with specific examples of skills and knowledge acquired; and
10. Demonstrate appropriate work habits, apply the best interpersonal communication skills, and develop professional connections and intrapersonal skills of success.

The CEO internship is a privilege and an essential component of every career academy. The student intern is not entitled to wages or a promise of employment at the completion of the CEO internship. All stakeholders (students, school staff and business mentors) must plan accordingly, and be cognizant of and comply with all CEO requirements, rules and procedures. 

Non-Negotiable Internship Rules and Procedures

The school-site agrees to oversee the entire process of the CEO internship as following:

1. Assign a certified teacher to supervisor the internship and create an academy that incorporates professional skills;
2. Identify eligible students and encourage students to enroll in the internship
3. Orientate and prepare the students for the internship;
4. Review the CEO Internship requirements, rules and procedures with the student interns, and collect forms;
5. Train students in the CEO Clearinghouse procedures;
6. Align students field of study with internship;
7. Recruit and maintain a positive relationship with business mentors and provide business mentors with all attendance and assessment forms;
8. Collaborate with business mentors in designing an appropriate internship experience;
9. Provide the business mentor with a copy of the M-DCPS student attendance policy and Code of Student Conduct and collect completed time cards and assessments to generate student grade and attendance; and
10.  Follow-up with businesses regarding the progress of student interns.

The CEO internship is a privilege and an essential component of every career academy. The student intern is not entitled to wages or a promise of employment at the completion of the CEO internship. All stakeholders (students, school staff and business mentors) must plan accordingly, and be cognizant of and comply with all CEO requirements, rules and procedures. 

Non-Negotiable Internship Rules and Procedures

The Business Mentor agrees to ensure a structured learning experience and meet the following regulatory requirements:

1. Participate in all required online pre-service training and complete all required paperwork;
2. Agree to offer an internship for the length of a semester and collaborate with school-site staff in designing an appropriate internship experience;
3. Interview students and notify the Office of Community Services immediately of the selection;
4. Provide M-DCPS with a current set of its rules, regulations, and policies that directly affect the students placed at the business site and acquaint the students with said terms;
5. Provide a professional and age-appropriate workplace environment that keeps the student safe from physical, emotional, and mental harm;
6. Inform the M-DCPS teacher-of-record immediately via email of any unscheduled absences;
7. Communicate in writing immediately any and all concerns to the Office of Community Services and the school-site CEO contact;
8. Confirm student attendance on the internship time sheet form provided and maintain the timesheet at the business site, accessible to the intern;
9. Complete and submit the student intern’s grades and attendance each nine weeks using the forms provided;
10. Understand and agree that they are subject to all School Board rules relating to the confidentiality of student information.   The business mentor further agrees to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”).  Business mentor shall treat all student information as confidential and will not disclose the student information to any third party.

Florida Department of Education
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK - GRADES 9-12, ADULT

Subject Area: Experiential Education
Course Number: 0500330
Course Title: Executive Internship IV
Credit: 1.0 (as per State of Florida)
                .5 (as per M-DCPS)

A. Major concepts/content.

The purpose of this course is to continue to provide students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and competencies to real-life career processes and settings.

The content should include, but not be limited to, the following:

- Analysis of career options, decision-making skills, and career planning processes;
- Professional job requirements and building skills and knowledge;
- Characteristics of work settings;
- Theories of executive management;
- Free enterprise concepts; and
- Organizational structure.

B. Special note.

The nature of this program requires great flexibility in the duration of the course and the number of contact hours. Student performance standards must be designed to meet the uniqueness of the course.

C. Intended outcomes.

After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to:

- Project career options in a changing society,
- Analyze strengths and weaknesses of organizations,
- Analyze the role of executives in various organizations,
- Describe factors that affect the work environment,
- Analyze theories of executive management,
- Describe factors that affect job performance,
- Analyze advantages and disadvantages of careers, and
- Expand the understanding of career planning processes.

CEO Internship Matrix of Forms provides you with a concise table indicating the appropriate forms for program compliance and responsible individuals.

CEO Internship Matrix of Forms	Completed by:  Check all Applicable
Required Forms	Business	Parent	School	Student
Parental/Student Authorization and Acknowledgement of Risk		X		X
Interim Assessment	X		X
Final Assessment	X		X
Field Trip Permission Request Form		X		X
Time Sheet	X			X
Cooperative Agreement	X		M-DCPS
CEO Congratulations		X

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