North Star Intern Compact Document
Uncommon Schools • North Star Academy
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICUM/INTERNSHIP
Handbook & Contract
A comprehensive guide to confidentiality, professional conduct, attendance policies, and clinical training standards for school psychologist interns. Aligned with North Star hiring agreements and University Internship Agreements.
Professional Contract • 2026-2027
This document serves as both the operational handbook and the binding contract governing the clinical internship site assignment, school-based expectations, and university supervision alignment.
Intern Name
_____________________________________
University Partner
_____________________________________
Assigned School Site
_____________________________________
Academic Year
2026 - 2027
Uncommon Schools • North Star Academy
Handbook Section I
Professionalism & Ethical Conduct
Core standards governing professional behavior, stakeholder boundaries, and representations.
1.1 Organizational Code of Conduct
As representative professionals at North Star Academy, interns are expected to uphold our organization's code of conduct. This centers on being our best selves for our scholars and one another. Interns must take proactive ownership of work, support their school multidisciplinary teams, demonstrate a growth mindset by acting on feedback, and act as ethical role models for scholars at all times.
1.2 Relationships and Student Boundaries
Interns are strictly prohibited from engaging in personal relationships with students that are outside the scope of a professional adult-student relationship, both on and off school grounds. School psychology interns must refrain from contacting students via text, personal email, social media, or phone calls for non-academic/non-clinical purposes. To ensure child safety, interns should not be left completely alone in closed-door offices with a student unless clinically necessary, in which case the office door window must remain unobstructed, or school leadership notified. Interns must never transport scholars in their personal vehicles under any circumstances.
School Gossip Policy
Faculty and staff must never engage in gossip about any member of the school community. Interns should never discuss colleagues negatively or provide a forum for student-led complaints. Serious concerns must be routed directly to school leadership.
Conversation Recording Policy
No employee may record conversations with another employee without full knowledge, consent, and meeting strict operational criteria (legitimate purpose, device in plain view, and written authorization from a supervisor). Secret recordings are strictly prohibited.
1.3 Professional Appearance and Dress Code
Interns serve as prominent clinical role models for students and families. Interns must demonstrate a neat, professional appearance at all times, adhering to the school's dress code policy. This requires business-professional or neat business-casual attire, including the equivalent of collared shirts, dress pants, professional skirts, or dresses. Casual denim, athletic wear, or beach footwear are prohibited unless specifically authorized for field trips or school-wide spirit days.
NORTH STAR ACADEMY PAGE 2
Uncommon Schools • North Star Academy
Handbook Section II
Confidentiality & Student Records
Legal and organizational mandates on proprietary information, FERPA compliance, and secure clinical records.
2.1 Confidentiality Mandate
In order to perform psychological and assessment duties, interns will have access to sensitive operating practices, student evaluations, clinical histories, financial records, and personal family details. All such data is strictly defined as Confidential Information. Interns must hold this information in strict trust during and subsequent to their internship. No student files, counseling folders, IEP reports, or psychological files may be transmitted, removed, or transported from the school building without prior written approval from the Regional Superintendent of Operations, Director of Operations, or their clinical supervisor.
2.2 FERPA & Clinical Record Safeguards
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student education and psychological records must be strictly protected. School psychology interns must maintain secure, password-protected electronic records and physical test protocols. All counseling logs, case conceptualizations, and evaluation data must be stored in designated locked school filing systems. Verbal disclosures of student assessment findings or clinical indicators are limited strictly to authorized educational team members and parent/guardian stakeholders, on a legal "need-to-know" basis. Discussions in public spaces, such as faculty lounges or hallways, are strictly prohibited.
2.3 Social Networking and Public Disclosures
Interns are strictly legally prohibited from posting photographs of students, disclosing student names, or referencing any student's identity, behavior, or family background on personal blogs, social media channels (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), or public digital spaces. Personal social media accounts must never be disclosed to scholars, and under no circumstances should an intern accept a "friend" or "follow" request from a current student. Communication with families must utilize school-approved channels, such as official school email or district-supported platforms, and must remain strictly professional.
CRITICAL WARNING: Breach of FERPA, HIPAA, or school confidentiality guidelines is considered major professional misconduct and constitutes grounds for immediate termination of the internship placement, notification to the licensing board, and university referral.
NORTH STAR ACADEMY PAGE 3
Uncommon Schools • North Star Academy
Handbook Section III
Attendance, Absences & Work Schedules
Operational schedules, emergency closings, reporting protocols, and strict attendance requirements.
3.1 Internship Hours and Scheduling
Interns are required to adhere directly to the school calendar and daily operational work schedule. This alignment with the North Star Academy schedule requires presence during the agreed upon internship hours and active participation in multidisciplinary team meetings, parent-teacher nights, and designated student arrival/dismissal responsibilities.
3.2 Absence Notification & Tardiness
Regular, punctual attendance is essential to student service and school operations. In the event of an unavoidable illness or sudden personal emergency, the intern must notify their Clinical Supervisor(s) directly by cell phone no later than 6:00 AM on the day of the absence. Interns must continue to call and text until direct contact is confirmed; leaving a simple voicemail or email is insufficient. Standard clinical logs must be adjusted to document any missed service hours, with a make-up plan approved by the supervisor.
3.3 No-Show Policy and Job Abandonment
An intern who is absent for a period of three (3) consecutive scheduled workdays without notifying both their Clinical Supervisor will be considered to have resigned, with such resignation effective on the initial date of absence. This standard aligns directly with Uncommon Schools' voluntary termination policies.
3.4 School Closings & Unplanned Dismissals
North Star Academy operates independently of the local district regarding school closures. Directors of Operations across schools will create a communication plan and notify all staff by 6:00 AM of delayed openings or school closures. Following this, the Clinical Supervisor(s) will alert the interns of the closing updates. In the event of an early weather dismissal, interns are required to actively assist with student dismissals and parent notifications, and must remain on site until all designated scholars have safely departed.
NORTH STAR ACADEMY PAGE 4
Uncommon Schools • North Star Academy
Handbook Section IV
University Integration & Academic Contract
Integration of university course agreements, evaluation requirements, and state-certified clinical supervision guidelines.
4.1 University Internship Agreements Acknowledgement
This contract explicitly incorporates by reference the core requirements set forth in the current University Internship Agreements executed between the intern's sending College or University program and North Star Academy. The site and supervisor agree to support the general scope of clinical and psychoeducational training as structured by the university, ensuring access to counseling cases, psychological evaluations, behavioral intervention plans, and child study team consultation.
4.2 Performance Review and Evaluation Cycles
Academic credit and successful internship completion are strictly contingent upon structured evaluation checkpoints. The Clinical Supervisor agrees to complete mid-term and final performance evaluations using the specific diagnostic rubrics and rating tools supplied by the intern's university. Review meetings will be scheduled at least twice annually (typically November and April) involving the Intern, Clinical Supervisor, (and University Field Coordinator) to track clinical competency domains and ensure satisfactory academic progress.
4.3 Supervision Hour Targets and Log Sign-Off
In strict compliance with NASP standards, the host school site must provide the intern with at least two (2) hours of weekly direct clinical supervision conducted by a New Jersey State-Certified School Psychologist possessing a minimum of 3 years of professional school experience. Additionally, administrative supervision (covering scheduling, school policy, and logistics). Interns are required to maintain detailed daily clinical logs tracking direct, indirect, and supervision hours. These logs must be submitted to the Clinical Supervisor for review and formal signature verification on a bi-weekly basis.
NORTH STAR ACADEMY PAGE 5
Uncommon Schools • North Star Academy
Handbook Section V
Internship Agreement & Terms of Hire
Contractual conditions, at-will relationship declaration, financial contract, and dispute resolution guidelines.
5.1 At-Will Internship Nature
Notwithstanding academic alignments or supervisor-signed progress schedules, the intern's placement is classified as "at-will" under North Star Academy's standard hiring framework. This means both the Intern and North Star Academy reserve the absolute right to terminate this internship agreement at any time, for any reason, with or without prior notice. Terminating the internship contract may invalidate university academic credit, and remains independent of academic requirements.
5.2 Alignment with General Hiring Agreement
The clinical placement must align with the general professional expectations, site regulations, and core duties established in the intern's original North Star Agreement of Hire. Interns commit to supporting the school's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), participating in child study team meetings, and complying with all campus operations and network rules. The placement is classified as a non-standard employment position; interns are not eligible for standard salaried employee benefits, medical plans, or tuition reimbursement. When applicable under statutory guidelines, Sick & Personal Time is accrued and monitored strictly in compliance with New Jersey Earned Sick Leave regulations (one hour of sick leave accrued per thirty hours worked, up to 56 hours per school year).
5.3 Dispute and Problem Resolution Procedure
If a conflict arises regarding clinical duties, hour tracking, or supervisor feedback, the school encourages quick, fair, and informal resolution. The intern should first raise the issue directly with their clinical supervisor. If unresolved, the issue may be brought before the school's Director of Operations or Principal. Should clinical or contract disputes persist, the University Internship Coordinator will be formally engaged to participate in a mediated tripartite conflict-resolution conference.
NORTH STAR ACADEMY PAGE 6
Uncommon Schools • North Star Academy
Agreement Signatures
2026-2027 Contract Signatures
Please verify, date, and execute the signature fields below to formalize this internship agreement.
By signing below, the student intern, and North Star Academy supervisor and administration formally attest that they have read and fully understood the contents of this Combined Intern Handbook & Contract. The parties agree to comply with all outlined confidentiality mandates (FERPA), operational work schedules, professional relationship guidelines, academic performance cycles, and supervision hour targets as a condition of internship execution.
Student Intern Printed Name & Signature
DATE
Clinical Supervisor Printed Name & Signature
DATE
Clinical Supervisor Printed Name & Signature (If Applicable)
DATE
School Admin Director of Special Education
DATE
NORTH STAR ACADEMY PAGE 7
