Board reviews senior internship pilot requiring 40 hours and presentation; multiple pathways offered

Fountain Hills USD administrators presented a pilot senior internship and community-service program to begin next year, designed to give seniors workplace experience or community-service credentials and a presentation assessed against a rubric tied to the district's portrait of a graduate.

Students would select one of four pathways: (1) an unpaid internship (40 minimum hours), (2) participation in EVIT/CTE coursework, (3) an alternative research project (40 hours minimum with community focus and interviews), or (4) continuing employment that can be authorized as internship credit. All seniors would complete an employability-skills module (resume, application, interviewing fundamentals via Naviance), maintain a log of hours, and present findings to a panel (advisor, administrator and a community member) in April. Advisors will monitor students through advisory time and interim deadlines; administration said students who fail to meet the February term deadline will be assigned the alternative research option.

Administration emphasized flexibility for year one and said the district will partner with the local Chamber and community businesses for placements and a July job fair. The program is graded as a letter grade and is intended to be a credit-bearing course option when the board approves (administration will request a credit designation at a future meeting). The board and staff discussed accommodations for students who already work and special-needs students; administrators said tailored options and approval pathways will be provided.

Why it matters: The program aims to strengthen postsecondary planning and workforce readiness and to give seniors a practical resume-building experience tied to district goals.

Next steps: Administration will finalize timelines, advisory supports, employer outreach, and rubric details for implementation and report back to the board with administrative procedures and crediting language before the school year starts.