BUSINESS INTERN PROGRAM

      At Palm Springs High School, we offer Business Intern—an elective class that assists students in defining their interests and determining their suitability to various occupations.  A variety of business professionals visit the classroom regularly and students are provided with the opportunity to interview them about their careers.  After the school day, the student interns spend four hours a week in a business or nonprofit organization, observing and learning the requirements of a particular occupation (there is no paid employment).

The goals of the Business Intern program are to:

·         Show students the variety of careers—up-close exposure to career options help students make more realistic career decisions

·         Make students aware of the necessary workplace skills to succeed on the job

·         Help students understand teamwork and how it is required for workplace success

·         Provide a connection between learning and earning—students see that a good education is important to getting a good job and understand the relevance of school work

      The intern site is arranged by the instructor, and depends on the students’ interests and aptitudes, the facilities of the observation station, the job classification and the industry opportunities in our Coachella Valley.  The instructor meets one-on-one with each student prior to placement at the intern site and then provides coaching as the student goes through the process of obtaining an initial placement interview at the potential site.  When required, the instructor accompanies the student on the initial interview.  After a successful interview, students spend an average of four hours a week at their intern sites.  The length of their assignment is one semester (18 weeks) and can be extended for a longer period of time.  Students earn 2.5 credits per quarter for successful completion of the program or 5 credits a semester.

      The Business Intern teacher keeps records of all intern site visitations:  dates, names of supervisors, and items discussed.  The records of each intern site are maintained and filed in the students’ folders which include student name, address, telephone number, date of birth, age at time of Business Intern enrollment, name of intern site, internship supervisor, site address and phone number, type of occupation, weekly reports of student’s hourly work record, report of behavior at the site, consultations with intern supervisors, and formal training agreements.  These records are required by the California Department of Education for the students to earn course credits.

      Over $1 million liability coverage for student safety is provided through American International Groups, an insurance policy held by Palm Springs Unified School District.  Further information is available from Mr. Curtis Stephan, Risk Manager, Business Services, at 760-416-6191.

      We welcome new Partners In Education!  Please call 760-778-0448 any time if you would like to arrange to participate in our Business Intern program.  Your involvement will make a difference in the life of a teenager.