The primary purpose of the FCPS School Psychology Internship Program is to provide a comprehensive pre- or post-doctoral training program which assures the development of proficiency across the core areas of school psychology including assessment, intervention design, counseling, consultation, and research. The FCPS School Psychology Internship Program is an organized training program, which is designed to provide the intern with a planned, programmed sequence of training experiences. The overall training objectives of the program reflect a commitment to the development of school psychologists who are scientist-practitioners with broad-based skills. The internship is structured to meet Kentucky’s requirements to become a licensed psychologist and a certified school psychologist. The program consists of 2000 hours of training over a 12- month period with at least 25% in direct face-to-face psychological services.
In the FCPS School Psychology Internship Program, interns are exposed to both Special Education and General Education programs. Under supervision of licensed psychologists, interns engage in psychoeducational and psychological assessment and evaluations, consultation, training, counseling, behavior management, and crisis intervention services. Training assignments are made to assure that each intern has the opportunity to provide assessment and intervention to students with various needs and diagnoses and to serve various age, cultural, socioeconomic, and minority groups. The wide range of diversity among students and staff in FCPS allows the internship to offer considerable multicultural experiences to interns. Special efforts are also made to provide experience with low incidence disorders.
The Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) district in Lexington, Kentucky serves over 40,000 students from the Lexington metro area. FCPS serves students from preschool through 12th grade. FCPS includes 37 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, 6 high schools, 3 technical centers, 6 specialized and magnet programs, and 6 alternative support programs. FCPS is a diverse district that serves individuals from both urban and rural populations. The student population is made up of the following demographics: 45.9 percent White, 23.4 percent Black, 19.1 percent Hispanic, and 4.9 percent Asian. Over 6,000 students are classified as English Language Learners and over 90 native languages are spoken by families in the district. Approximately 49.5% of all students in FCPS qualify for free/reduced lunch; some schools/areas have populations that include over 90% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch.
The FCPS Special Education Department currently serves approximately 5,000 students identified with a special education need. The mission of the Special Education Department is to support students, staff, and families by using data to provide effective, evidence-based instruction and services to ensure student growth and successful transition. Services provided through the Special Education Department include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, employment training, health and psychological services, and assistance for students with hearing and vision impairments. FCPS employs 36.3 school psychologists. Trainees will receive a broad experience with diverse populations. The FCPS School Psychology Internship Program values diversity among staff members and strongly encourages individuals with diverse backgrounds to apply.
Within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the population of the United States, Lexington is strategically located at the intersection of interstates 64 and 75 in Fayette County, Kentucky. The area is referred to as “The Horse Capital of the World.” The U.S. Census estimate for Lexington-Fayette County is 321,951 (2018). The Lexington area offers a wide range of diversity in student and family population, including areas such as ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, and language, which provides interns with greater opportunities to work with clients from richly diverse backgrounds. Lexington is home to the University of Kentucky, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and Transylvania University. The University of Kentucky draws large crowds for their sporting events and educational/cultural experiences and opportunities. The Keeneland Thoroughbred Race Track and Kentucky Horse Park are located in the Lexington area. Lexington is home to a variety of restaurants, shops, music/arts/crafts, sports, Broadway and local theatre, and night-life activities and is in close proximity to locations offering opportunities for hiking, camping, biking, rock climbing, and boating/kayaking. Lexington is served by the Blue Grass Airport and is less than a two hour drive from Louisville and Cincinnati.