The Voices and Vantages of School-Level Bureaucrats: Students and Staff to Improve Internship Policies

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Fourteen
  In Roundtable Session: Challenges to Equity in Policy, Curriculum as Assessment: The Studies on Challenge and Opportunity (Table 4)

Abstract

Student internships are gaining traction within national, state, and local public policy as a necessary service that promotes equitable workforce development and prepares students for the labor market. For low-income students of color, these experiences can be some of the most formative for acquiring forms of social and cultural capital conducive to thriving in college and career. In this research, we interviewed both adult policy implementors (principals and coordinators) and student participants (interns) in order to assess how well policy goals and objectives are being realized. Our analysis indicates a need to more thoroughly include student voices and perspectives in policy/programmatic design implementation for students to gain the agency that will benefit them as they transition toward college and career.

Authors

• Anindya Kundu, Florida International University
  Presenting Author

• Yuly V. Piedrahita Guzman, Florida International University
  Presenting Author