Falmouth Public SchoolsA Community Committed to Excellence: Every Student. Every Day.

Introduction

The Falmouth Public Schools welcomes qualified candidates with college or university sponsorship to engage with our school community to advance their professional learning as either a practitioner or a researcher. First and foremost, the primary role in the District is to educate and support our students. Observations, internships, and research endeavors are secondary to this overarching purpose. Therefore, careful procedures are followed to review requests, evaluate candidates, and grant authorization.

Observation Requests

For candidates seeking to observe classroom instruction or other school functions and routines, candidates must begin by completing the "Request to Observe in a Classroom" application. This document asks candidates to provide information about themselves, including contact information and general information to guide placement. This is also the area in which candidates share the name of the college or university sponsoring the observation as well as the contact information for the supervising member of the institution's faculty. Following the initial page is the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) application. Candidates will need to return this completed form to the Falmouth Public Schools' Administration Building and have the CORI application reviewed by a member of the staff before the application can be processed. The final pages of the application include an emergency contact form as well as a confidentiality statement. All pages must be completed in order for the application to be processed.

Applications for observation are accepted and reviewed in accordance with the following timeline:

Observation requests received after February 1st may be considered for the following school year.

Internships and Practicum Experiences

For candidates seeking to engage in an internship or practicum experience, which requires extended and even routine attendance in one or more of our District's schools, candidates must begin by completing the "Request to Complete an Internship/Practicum" application. This document asks candidates to provide information about themselves, including contact information and general information to guide placement. This is also the area in which candidates share the name of the college or university sponsoring the internship or practicum experience as well as the contact information for the supervising member of the institution's faculty. Following the initial page is the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) application. Candidates will need to return this completed form to the Falmouth Public Schools' Administration Building and have the CORI application reviewed, in person, by a member of the staff before the application can be processed. In addition, as the internship or practicum experience generally requires candidates to be in direct contact with students -- either as a practicing teacher, counselor, or administrator -- candidates must also complete fingerprinting in accordance with Chapter 459 of the Acts of 2012, “An Act Relative to Background Checks.” The final pages of the application include an emergency contact form as well as a confidentiality statement. All pages must be completed in order for the application to be processed.

Application for internship and practicum experiences are accepted and reviewed in accordance with the following timeline:

Internship and practicum requests received after February 1st may be considered for the following school year.

Request to Conduct Research

Falmouth Public Schools supports efforts to conduct research that will enhance our shared understanding of teaching and learning. All research conducted in our schools must meet guidelines of ethical and methodological rigor and be aligned with school and district priorities and goals. If you are interested in submitting an application to conduct research, please review the sections below and submit the attached application including the required materials.

Timeline

Applications to conduct research are accepted during the following windows:

• October 1 - November 30 for research to be conducted in spring of the following year;
• February 1 - March 29 for research to start during summer of that year;
• June 3 - July 31 for research to start during fall of that year;
• October 1 - November 29 for research to start in the spring of the following year.

Please allow 60 days for completion of the review process and notification.

Application Process

Step 1: The researcher completes the application and includes the required materials.

Step 2: Upon receipt of a complete application, the materials will be reviewed by a member of the Office of Teaching and Learning. Decisions will be made within 60 days and the response will be sent to the lead researcher on the project.

Step 3: Once a project is approved, the researcher can begin the project within the scope articulated in the application materials. Should a change in the research protocol and scope be necessary, the Office of Teaching and Learning must be notified in advance and issue a new approval.

Who can conduct research

Graduate students and doctoral candidates may submit an application to conduct research in Falmouth Public Schools. Researchers affiliated with a college or university must submit a copy of an approved IRB as part of the application packet.

Application

Please complete the "Request to Conduct Research" application.