A culminating Capstone paid work experience for students in 11th and 12th grades who have secured the recommendation of their technical instructor. Recommended students have the opportunity to obtain real work experience and to practice the specific technical skills they have learned.
Features:
- Open to 11th and 12th grade students who possess entry-level skills.
- All academics are usually taken at the sending school during morning periods.
- Students are employed in their technical field in the afternoon for a set amount of days determined by their technical program instructors.
- Students still attend North Montco Technical Career Center on those non-work days to continue with their technical education. They can also meet with the Co-op Coordinator to discuss any work concerns.
The Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) is a structured combination of school-based and work-based learning. Through a coordinated effort involving business and industry, Co-op addresses the dual role of preparing students for the world of work and providing Pennsylvania with a highly skilled, technologically competitive workforce. A student participating in the Cooperative Education Program receives an education that is both academically challenging and relevant to employment in today’s economy. The program enables a student to receive a high school diploma while experiencing on-the-job training.
Essential components of the Cooperative Education Program are:
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a partnership structure involving North Montco Technical Career Center and numerous local employers, and community representatives;
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structured linkage between secondary and post-secondary components, leading to a high school diploma and in some cases post-secondary credential; and
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academic and vocational classroom instruction combined with on-the-job learning experiences.
Work-based learning includes the development of a detailed training plan between the employer and apprentice and identification of specific work tasks that will develop workplace competencies. Students will be allowed to go to work for a number of days determined by their teacher and the cooperative education coordinator.
School based instruction includes selection coursework related to their chosen trade area. The student will receive periodic evaluations and on-going guidance from their employers. Prior to being considered for the program, students must complete an online Cooperative Education packet that includes the following forms:
In addition to meeting the required guidelines to be a part of the Cooperative Education Program, students are also expected to excel in these three areas:
Once the student has excelled in the aforementioned areas, there are still three critical elements that must be in place before a Co-op student can truly experience an authentic work-based learning experience. Those three elements are:
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the mentor (someone who provides guidance and encouragement to student),
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student evaluations (done by the employer and serves as an assessment tool for the student’s job performance), and
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work towards completion of the student's duty & task list.
Cooperative Education greatly benefits all parties involved in the program. Students participating in Co-op get quite a head start on their career while still being in school. Because the program focuses on developing an individualized training plan for each student, the student is able to recognize clear connections between their learning in the classroom setting, their experiences on the job, and achieving their future career goals.
Pennsylvania high school students benefit from their participation in the Cooperative Education Program by:
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establishing a clear connection between education and work,
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having a sense of pride knowing they are competent in their trade area,
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providing opportunities to explore possible careers and enhancing skill development,
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developing workplace responsibility and positive work habits and attitudes,
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learning from skilled professionals,
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earning a paycheck while in school.
Not only do students benefit greatly from their participation in the Cooperative Education Program; employers also reap rewards for their participation. Through their participation, employers are provided an opportunity to:
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increase employer visibility in education.
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prepare future workers.
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reduce their costs for recruitment and training.
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communicate required job-specific proficiencies to educational personnel.
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improve employee retention.
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offer a skilled, homegrown workforce for Pennsylvania.
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become more involved with the curriculum development process.
Employers view apprentices as valuable employees that make a real contribution to their businesses. Employers that hire Co-op students know that they are not only helping young people achieve their dreams, they are also developing a world-class workforce for Pennsylvania.
In addition to students and employers benefiting from their participation in the Cooperative Education Program, school systems also are able to benefit from their participation.
School systems currently participating in the Cooperative Education Program are benefited by:
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keeping academic and occupational curricula up-to-date through communication with business and industry.
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providing access to the latest equipment and technology.
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enhancing education’s ability to meet the needs of diverse student populations.
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making education more relevant and valuable to students.
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increasing student retention.
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augmenting interaction between education and the business community.
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promoting faculty interaction with the business community.
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facilitating communication regarding actual academic and occupational proficiencies required by business and industry.
How does Cooperative Education benefit the community that it serves?
Co-op benefits the community by:
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providing an informed, competent, and productive future workforce.
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ensuring cooperation and understanding between education, business, and the community.
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enhancing awareness of local employment opportunities.
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building the foundation for a more productive local economy.
North Montco Technical Career Center is proud to be able to offer this outstanding learning experience to the youth in our area. If you have any questions about this program please contact Ed Trbuza at (215)368-1177 x130.
Follow this link to the the Pennsylvania Department of Education site for more information about Cooperative Education.
