Cooperative “Coop” Education Work Experience

Cooperative Education is a structured method of instruction that combines classroom-based instruction and on-the-job training to help students prepare for or explore their occupational objectives. It is paid employment. Students work an average of 11 - 15 hours per week. Coop students are guided by a formal, individualized, written training plan that defines the student’s work-experience. The students are evaluated by the coordinating teacher and their employer supervisor to earn letter grades for the course and work experience. The student must pass the concurrent career and technical education (CTE) course to earn course credit and work-experience credit. In addition to the course credit, students may earn 1 to 3 credits for work-experience. Students must work 280 hours for 1 credit, 560 hours for 2 credits, or a minimum of 840 hours for 3 credits during the current academic year. Any work-experience hours earned during the summer will count towards work credit for the next academic year, provided that the student continues enrollment in a CTE course. Student employment conforms to federal, state, and local child labor laws and regulations. Concurrent CTE courses are any of the Business & Information Technology, Computer Science, Trade & Industrial Education, Technology Education and Family and Consumer Science program electives offered in grades 10th- 12th. Reference the Program of Studies for additional course information.