Overview of SCOE School of Education Intern Program
Purpose
Thank you for your interest in our Intern Program. The SCOE School of Education offers a two-year Intern Program as an alternative pathway to either a Single Subject Math/Science or a Multiple Subject credential. The Intern Program is well suited to:
- Second-career professionals
- Paraprofessionals with some teaching experience (substitute teachers, instructional aides, tutors, volunteers)
- Recent college graduates in content areas experiencing a shortage of teachers such as Math and Science
- Candidates unable to pursue traditional teacher preparation programs (due to family schedules, economic issues, etc.)
All candidates in the Intern Program must meet the same standards for teacher preparation as those found in a traditional college or university setting including demonstration of subject matter proficiency and completion of all prerequisite tests and coursework.
Prerequisites
- Possess a verifiable bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university
- Pass CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test)
- Satisfy U.S. Constitution requirements (transcript showing passage of college-level U.S. History course OR certificate)
- Pass all applicable subsets of the CSET (California Subject Examinations for Teachers)
- Obtain Certificate of Clearance from CTC (Form 41-LS)
- Obtain Tuberculin Test results
Coursework
- Successful completion of 120-hour Preservice coursework
- Four semesters of teacher preparation classes, concurrent while being a "teacher of record", entitles the candidate to the same credential as one earned through a traditional program
- Teacher preparation courses are completed on Saturdays
Program Distinctions
There are some major distinctions between traditional credential pathways and the alternative certification route:
- All candidates must enroll in a 120-hour Preservice prior to eligibility as an intern teacher
- Intern teachers are not in a resident or master teacher’s classroom
- Intern teachers serve (from the first day of school) as the paid, full time “teacher of record”
- Intern teachers are not “student teachers.” They do not have another teacher in the classroom
SCOE/District Support
Support for SCOE intern teachers is provided through a collaborative partnership between the school district and the SCOE School of Education. A mentor teacher (from the district) provides on-site peer coaching. Field Coaches and faculty from SCOE School of Education provide ongoing coaching and instruction through planned observations during regularly scheduled site visits.
SCOE faculty will actively coach candidates to improve the delivery of instruction and to prepare for state assessments including RICA (Reading Instruction Competence Assessment) and CalTPA (Teaching Performance Assessments). Additionally, all interns are assigned to a cohort to promote peer level support groups.
The SCOE Intern Program combines practical, relevant coursework with onsite support and mentoring. We recognize that our candidates bring a wealth of prior experience to the program and our courses are designed to link educational theory with best instructional practices.