Student Teaching and Practicum/Internship Information
Student teachers are important to Portland Public Schools (PPS). Human Resources encourages universities to place student teachers within PPS classrooms for their practicum and field experiences to enable cooperating teachers to help prepare the next generation of PPS teachers.
Student teacher placement and field experiences are a result of formal agreements between Portland Public Schools and individual universities. Before a student teacher/intern may be placed in one of the District's schools, a formal agreement with the university must be on file in the PPS central office. If you are a university and would like to request a contract agreement, please email Regina Stanton at rstanton@pps.net. If you would like to confirm that your University already has a contract in place please click here.
The placement process is an agreement made between the universities and the school principal. Once a placement has been confirmed by both parties, then the student teacher must complete the required district paperwork before starting his/her PPS student teaching experience. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at 503-916-3544.
If you are conducting an Observation, contact the school to make the appropriate arrangements and complete the volunteer background check at the school.
All student placements must have advanced approval between the university and school administrator prior to completing district paperwork. Portland Public Schools will send an email confirming placement.
• If you have received an email confirming your placement as a student teacher please click here.
• If you did not receive an email confirming your student teaching placement please click here.
Note: Priority will be given to Oregon and Washington universities seeking a formal student teacher agreement. Agreements with universities outside of Oregon and Washington will be considered on an individual basis,and are contingent upon the school Principal accepting an out of state placement and contract approval. The process to finalize the contract can take up to 6 weeks, and does not include the time it takes to facilitate the placement with the Principal. Please plan accordingly for placing students in a timely manner. Contracts are drafted for three year terms. The District reserves the right to decline a partnership with any Institution.
Useful links for universities and PPS schools:
• PPS Student Teacher Placement Tool (PPS Network login will be required)
If you are a current Portland Public Schools teacher obtaining an administrator endorsement or additional endorsements, you will not be required to complete the background check process. Please confirm your placement with the PPS Administrator and your university.
Last updated: October 2011
