Student Placements

Columbus City Schools (CCS) currently works with 40+ universities/colleges throughout the country placing their students in our classrooms for field placements, internships, student teaching, etc. These partnerships provide opportunities for future educators to have hands-on experiences in a variety of school settings.     

Every school year, Columbus City Schools’ educators volunteer to serve as mentors, hosting university students in their schools.  Mentors provide guidance in classroom management, pedagogy, content delivery, teaching strategies, etc.   

CCS educators interested in mentoring a university student must have taught in the district for three years. Mentors do not receive compensation due to Ohio Law. Compensation for the District, such as Fee Waivers, varies and is provided by the partner universities and colleges that place students in CCS. CCS Mentors receive CEUs for mentoring a university student. 

Steps to become a CCS Mentor:

• Complete the online mentor application in Columbus City Schools Distributed Application Services (CCSDAS) at https://applications.columbus.k12.oh.us/ccsdas/home/. 
• Use your current CCS username and password. 
• Select "General Request" then "Student Placement" then "Mentoring Application" then "Create."
• Further directions with screenshots can be found HERE. 
• Interested educators must complete the application each school year.
• Principals/supervisors must approve the application each school year.
• Mentors will receive an automated email to review student placement requests.
• Mentors may accept or reject the placements they receive.

Steps to receive CEUs for mentoring a university student:

• When the student placement is complete you may request CEUs for mentoring a university student, by returning to your mentor application in CCSDAS. In the blue “Placements” box, find the applicable placement and click on “Take Action” and “Create CEU.”
• You need to complete this request for each student placement you have during a school year.
• To receive CEUs for mentoring a university student, CCS educators must submit the request form (and any other identified requirements) no later than January 20 for first semester placements and June 20 for first semester and/or second semester placements of the school year in which the placement occurred.  Please complete this form at the end of the student's placement.  In addition, all placements must have been made by CCS Professional Learning and Licensure.  If approved, CEUs will be awarded in PDS by Professional Learning and Licensure by February 1 and June 30.
• In order to receive CEUs for hosting a student teacher/intern/co-teacher 400+ hour placement, you need to also submit a one page reflection in your CEU application in CCSDAS. This does not apply to short term field placements/observations, extended placements, FEEP students or 399 hours or below student teaching placements. Double check your placement parameters in CCSDAS.
• A chart outlining approved credit bearing activities for Cooperating Teachers Supervising University Students may be found HERE.

Interested in a Student Placement in Columbus City Schools?

• University student Information:
  • Please contact your college or university’s field placement coordinator to arrange your student placement experience in Columbus City Schools.
  • Please do not contact schools, principals, or teachers directly.

• University placement coordinators:
  • An affiliation agreement must be on file between the university/college for a student placement to be secured.  If you do not already have a current affiliation agreement in place with our district, please reach out to Megan Lemming at mlemming@columbus.k12.oh.us or (380) 997-7086 as soon as possible for this process.
  • Engage login credentials are needed to submit a student placement request.  If you need to set up an account in Engage or have questions regarding the student placement process, please contact Stacie Dieffenderfer at sdieffenderfer4400@columbus.k12.oh.us or (380) 997-5784.
  • Fall semester placement requests are due May 1 and spring semester placement requests are due November 30.