CTE Cooperative Education (NEW)

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WHAT IS COOPERATIVE EDUCATION?

Cooperative education (Co-Op) programs permit CTE students to be released from the school campus to work part-time or full-time for an employer.

Through Co-Op, CTE Educators and Local Employers Cooperate to Support Student Success in the Workforce.

The student will report to the assigned job, which is referred to as the student’s Training Site. The student/employee always represents our school district and is expected to demonstrate professional qualities of responsibility, dependability, ethical behavior, and maturity while performing tasks for the employer. The purpose of Co-Op programs is to provide the student with competencies developed through paid, supervised, on-the-job training related to an occupational goal.

Cooperative education is provided for in Chapter 4 of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education Regulations (SBR). Cooperative Education program content is provided for in Chapter 339. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Capstone Cooperative Education shall be planned and implemented as a method to assist students in their transition from school to work; it shall be planned and implemented in accordance with the student’s declared career objective and in concert with predetermined, expected academic and occupational learning outcomes. 

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KEY COMPONENTS OF THE CO-OP PROGRAM

• Co-Op students work in industries related to the CTE programs of study in which they are enrolled, so students may further develop competencies based on their program task list. 
• CTE program teachers provide industry specific instruction to support student growth and skill development.  
• Co-Op students are paired with workplace supervisors who are able to share occupational expertise. 
• Co-Op employers provide accurate and realistic job descriptions to ensure students are able to meet occupational expectations and increase their skill development. 
• Co-Op students and employers use individualized written training plans to correlate school-based instruction and work-based training. 
• Co-Op coordinators and workplace supervisors provide ongoing evaluations and feedback to help students hone their skill sets. 
• CTE Parents/guardians are part of the team approach to helping students achieve in the workplace and prepared for post-secondary success. 
• Co-Op coordinators work with CTE career counselors, Co-Op employers, and CTE program teachers to assist students with post-high school plans and placements. 
• Co-Op coordinators provide student instruction on topics including professionalism in the workplace, job readiness, communication, employment onboarding procedures and more.
  
  

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OUTCOMES FOR EMPLOYERS AND SOCIETY

Employer Outcomes

1. 1. • Skilled, short-term employees
      • Flexibility to address human resource needs
      • Cost-effective long-term recruitment and retention
      • Access to in-demand skilled workforce
      • Increased staff diversity
      • Partnerships with schools
      • Input on relevance of school’s curricula in industry
      • Cost-effective productivity
        
        

Societal Outcomes

1. 1. • Established model for workforce preparation
      • Income tax revenue
      • Productive and responsible citizen
      • Industry-education partnerships to meet the needs of the local economy