Kentucky Teacher Internship Program Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program?
The Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP) is designed to provide assistance to new teachers. Its main goal is to help new teachers experience a successful first year in the classroom. The program strengthens effective teaching skills and helps the intern teacher recognize behaviors that are ineffective or counterproductive for pupil learning.

Who must participate in the Teacher Internship Program?
KRS 161.030 requires that all new teachers and out-of-state teachers with less than two (2) years of successful teaching experience who are seeking initial certification in Kentucky shall serve a one (1) year internship.

How do I get a Username & Password for the Intern Management System?
Click Here: https://wd.kyepsb.net/EPSB.WebApps/Profile/Register/self_register.aspx and proceed through self-registration.

I already have an account for the Intern Management System. How do I login to it?
Click Here: https://wd.kyepsb.net/EPSB.WebApps/Login/login.aspx.

How does a new teacher become an intern?
A person who has completed an approved educator preparation program must pass the assessments approved by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) and apply to the Division of Certification for a teaching certificate. When the requirements have been completed, as evidenced by the application, official transcript, and report of the assessments, the applicant is issued a Statement of Eligibility valid for five years.

When the teacher secures employment in an approved public school or accredited non-public school in Kentucky, the Confirmation of Employment on the back of the Statement of Eligibility Form must be completed and forwarded to the Division of Professional Learning and Assessment.

A one-year teaching certificate is then issued to cover the teaching assignment and a three-member internship committee is appointed and monitored by the Division of Professional Learning and Assessment.

How is assistance provided to the new teacher?
The beginning teacher committee shall be composed of three (3) persons who have successfully completed training in the supervision and assessment of the performance of beginning teachers. The committee shall consist of a resource teacher (preferably in content area), the school principal of the school where the internship is served, and a teacher educator from a state-approved teacher training institution.

The resource teacher shall spend a minimum of seventy (70) hours working with the beginning teacher; twenty (20) of these hours shall be providing assistance to the intern in the classroom setting; fifty (50) of these hours shall be in consultation. Using class time or assessment meetings do not count as part of the 50 hours of mentoring time.

Each member of the committee shall observe the beginning teacher in the classroom a minimum of three (3) times per year; the intern shall be notified in advance. After each committee member has had an opportunity to observe and review the portfolio, the school principal shall schedule the committee meeting to discuss the findings. The intern will then discuss progress and expectations with the committee.

How is the intern evaluated?
The three members of the teacher committee make a professional judgment by majority vote as to whether the performance of the teacher intern has been satisfactory or unsatisfactory. In making the professional judgment, the committee considers:

• the progress of the intern through the entire year and, in particular, the level of performance achieved near the end of the school year,
• the progress and improvement of the intern demonstrated by a systematic observation of classroom performance,
• a review of a portfolio of materials that are accumulated by the intern as requested by the committee, and
• a review of the response of the intern to the suggestions and recommendations made by the committee during its meetings with the intern throughout the period of internship.

As a significant part of the KTIP, each committee member is trained in the use of the KTIP Intern Performance Record (IPR) and review of the portfolio. Committee members are trained to observe and record teaching behaviors related to New Teacher Standards adopted by the EPSB.

What if an intern is hired in the middle of the school year?
KRS 161.030(5) states "The teacher shall be a full-time employee or shall have an annual contract and serve on at least a half-time basis and shall have supervision, assistance, and assessment during the one (1) year internship."

If an intern is employed for a minimum of 70 days (3 hours per day - 5 days a week), the experience will count for one half of the internship requirement. The second half of the internship may be completed during employment for a semester in another school year prior to the expiration of their Statement of Eligibility.

What if the internship is judged unsatisfactory?
An intern whose experience is judged unsatisfactory may repeat the internship another year if hired in a Kentucky school district within period of validity of the Statement of Eligibility the next four years. If the committee failed to comply with and follow all prescribed statutory and regulatory requirements and procedures in assisting and assessing a teacher intern, the intern may appeal in writing the unsatisfactory decision of the KTIP committee within thirty (30) days of notice of their unsuccessful internship from the EPSB. Appeals shall be directed to the Division of Professional Learning and Assessment, EPSB, and will be assessed by an appointed appeals committee (KRS 161.030) which shall, whenever practical, make a determination within sixty (60) days following the receipt of each appeal.

What if the teaching graduate is not hired within the five year validity period of the Statement of Eligibility?
If the internship is not completed within the five year period of the Statement of Eligibility, the teacher must requalify for a new Statement of Eligibility by completing six semester hours of graduate credit from a master's degree program or planned fifth year program or by again passing the tests adopted by the EPSB.

Who can be a resource teacher?
The resource teacher shall have completed at least four (4) years of successful teaching experience as attested to by his or her immediate supervisor or by having achieved tenure and be able to show evidence of continuing professional development by having achieved a master's degree or its equivalent or the accumulation of two thousand (2,000) hours of continuing professional activities and KTIP training.

Can I do my internship at a non-public or private school?
A teacher internship may be served in a non-public or private school which meets the state performance standards as established in KRS 156.160 or which has been accredited by a regional or national accrediting association. For a list of approved accreditation agencies, statutory requirements, and contacts for non-public schools for preschool through Grade 12, visit the following Kentucky Department of Education web site: www.kde.state.ky.us

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