COOPERATIVE WORK
EXPERIENCE
Definition
Student Eligibility
Liability Exposure
Student Responsibilities
Student Preparation
Employer Responsibilities
School Supervisor Responsibilities
Sample Forms
DEFINITION
Cooperative work experiences integrate classroom learning with productive
structured work experience that should be directly related to the goals
and objectives of the Student Education Occupation Plan (SEOP). These experiences
lead to the development of higher level skills. Cooperative work experiences
are:
- Paid experiences
- Linked to a related
training course
During a cooperative
work experience, high school students have the opportunity to apply their
formal classroom learning to actual career situations. Students receive
training in technical and career skills, while earning high school credit
for successful cooperative work experiences.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
- Be a junior or senior
in high school
- Meet school guidelines
for participation
- Obtain appropriate
permission from the school and parent
- Have a student career
goal (SEOP/IEP) and a class related to the experience
LIABILITY EXPOSURE
In cooperative work experiences, students are paid employees. Utah state
law indicates that in such cases, students are considered regular employees
and are covered by the employer's worker's compensation insurance.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide a resume
to and interview with the employer
- Develop learning
objectives and complete a training agreement
- Complete job assignments
and meet employer expectations
- Complete and return
required forms
- Dress appropriately
for the work site including all appropriate safety, clothing, equipment,
etc.
- Arrive and depart
as scheduled
- Show honesty, punctuality,
a cooperative attitude, proper grooming and a willingness to learn
- Report accidents,
injuries or concern to school supervisor, work supervisor and parent
- Use transportation
approved and/or provided by the parent
- Notify employer of
absences in advance
STUDENT PREPARATION
- Define a career goal
based on career exploration, interest inventories and past work-based
learning experiences
- Define a sequence
of classes that link with the cooperative work experience
- Register for a course
that relates to the cooperative work experience
- Complete and return
all required forms
EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
- Interview and hire
students through the traditional hiring process
- Sign training agreement
- Support development
of student learning objectives
- Provide time to orient,
train and give feedback to the students
- Review progress with
the student periodically
- Meet with student
and school supervisor to review student progress
- Allow school supervisor
to visit the student at the work site
- Orient the student
and provide safety instruction
- Inform student of
required safety clothing or equipment
- Contact school supervisor
regarding termination, injury, accidents or problems
SCHOOL SUPERVISOR
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Distribute and collect
completed forms
- Support and facilitate
linkage of cooperative work experience with the SEOP/IEP
- Verify related class(es)
and graduation status
- Monitor student progress,
attendance and grades
- Maintain open communication
with student, parent and employer
- Follow procedural
guidelines related to safety including safe site visit and continued
monitoring
- Provide data to the
work-based learning coordinator or related personnel
SAMPLE FORMS
- Activity Release Form, if applicable
- Data Sheet
- Employer Feedback Form
- Student Application
- Student Commitment Form
- Student Evaluation Form
- Student Feedback Form
- Time Sheet
- Training Agreement
- Work Site Agreement
