College/Graduate Students

All individuals interested in completing a research project or study in Minneapolis Public Schools must have their research project approved by the MPS Research, Evaluation & Assessment (REA) department. This policy applies to all college and graduate students, including those looking to complete a pre-student teaching (field experience or practicum) experience as well.

There are several reasons that we do not allow research projects/studies to be conducted in our classrooms without prior consent. The main two reasons are:

1. To protect the classroom learning environment. Any adult who comes into the classroom can cause disruption to the observed child or any other child. Any adult who is a part of the classroom during the school day must be providing a benefit to the classroom learning environment.

2. To protect our students’ privacy. In a classroom, students’ names and information are not always private. If another non-MPS adult spends time in this classroom to observe a specific student, they may indirectly learn another student’s private information.

Research Requiring Approval

Approval from the MPS Research Review Committee is required before beginning any research program that involves district staff, students, facilities, or functions in:

●      The collection of data from students, parents, teachers, administrators, or other professional staff; or

●      Formal observations, surveys, focus groups, or individual interviews involving any of the above persons; or

●      The release of private data from district records

If a college or graduate student would like to complete a research project or study in MPS, they must go through REA’s external research request process.

Guidelines for Pre-Student Teachers:

Pre-Student teachers may complete informal observations of students, classrooms, teachers, and/or schools, or complete informal interviews with teachers provided that they follow these guidelines:

1. The student completes the required forms and online orientation prior to beginning the experience, and complies with all the Pre-Student Teacher Guidelines

2. The pre-student teacher provides a benefit to MPS students and learning environment as dictated in the Pre-Student Teacher Guidelines. If completing a required assignment, this must be part of a longer field experience; we do not allow students to observe a classroom for the sole purpose of completing an assignment.

3. The assignment does not interfere with the classroom learning environment or require access to student, parent, or staff data.

4. Observations and interviews may not be recorded in any way, including visual or audio recordings.

5. Student, teacher, and school information is de-identified in compliance with our Student and Staff Data Protection policy .

6.     Any essays/reports that are produced may not be published without prior approval from REA.

Guidelines for Masters Degree Students:

We currently do not have the capacity to support Masters degree project, unless you are a MPS staff member.  MPS staff should contact the REA Department for more information. 

Guidelines for PhD Students:

PhD dissertation work, not combined with a PI research project, need to follow MPS' research process.  If you are considering doing PhD dissertation work as part of an approved research project, please contact the REA Department, to discuss how this can work.