Co-op and Placement

The Co-Op program works with cooperating companies that hire students as regular employees at pay scales comparable to those of other entry-level people performing similar tasks.

Co-Op is a State approved, work-based learning program. Employers are required to pay the students, but have no further monetary responsibilities. They must provide a safe working environment, supervision by a person with journeyman status, and be covered under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Students are evaluated each cycle by the employers, and are further evaluated by the Co-Op Coordinator and the employer each quarter. The Co-Op Coordinator is responsible for qualifying work sites for safety and work content, and will conduct regular site visits.

During the cycle the student is normally assigned to shop, the student will instead report to his/her cooperative employer.

The Vocational Technical Education Regulations 603 CMR 4.03 (7) contain the standards for cooperative education. The Cooperative Education Coordinator has the main responsibility for ensuring that the standards are met. The individual technical teacher and Cooperative Education Coordinator are responsible for ensuring that:

• Student is capable of doing the work required by the employer
• Review work required with the employer before student is placed
• Complete a Safety Site Checklist on each worksite
• Student is passing all Chapter 74 Shop and Related requirements
• Student has a grade of 70 or better in all areas
• Obtain a co-op cycle report at the end of every academic cycle to ensure that the student is meeting grade requirements
• Evaluate student performance with periodic visits to the work site
• Student is working a minimum of 36 hours in a 6 day cycle
• The students competency list is reviewed with the employer
• Student evaluation form is filled out by the employer and returned to the co-op coordinator upon students return to school for the academic cycle
• Student is working at a site that provides the opportunity to develop technical and employability skills not acquirable in a school-based setting but acquirable in a work-based setting.
• Student continues to meet all requirements to remain on co-op
• If for any reason the student is terminated from their position, the school has the right to determine the appropriateness of that student obtaining another co-op position

Co-op Agreement Role for Employers

CORI Agreement Form

Employer's Insurance

General Safety and Health Worksite Assessment Checklist

Minimum Wage Information

No Unmonitored Contact Form

Parent Signature: Aspen Portal

Parent Signature: Student Requirement Rules

State and Federal Child Labor Laws for Co-op Students

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Student Co-op Report

Students expressing an interest in working in a Cooperative Education position must meet all the Cooperative Education requirements and be recommended by a CVTE teacher. The student can submit a resume to employers who have contacted the school looking to hire or find a Cooperative Education employer willing to hire a student in their career field.

The Student’s Role

The student must provide the following information to the Cooperative Education Coordinator:

• • Hiring company: name, hiring contact, telephone number, and email address
  • Student’s supervisor name
  • Birth certificate (if under 18)
  • Signed agreement to follow the rules of Cooperative Education employment
  • Attendance Office notification before attending employment interview. Student must bring in a note from parent/guardian the day before dismissal for an interview.

Student Expectations

In order for a student to participate in GNB Voc-Tech’s Cooperative Education Program, the student must agree to the following conditions of employment:

• Students must adhere to work standards as set forth by the employer, as well as school standards
• Must provide own transportation
• Student must work at a site that provides the opportunity to develop technical and employability skills not necessarily acquirable in a school-based setting but acquirable in a work-based setting.
• Portfolio and Career Plan must be up to date
• Student must pass all Chapter 74 Shop and Related requirements
• Student must have a grade of 70 or better in all areas
• Student must obtain a co-op cycle report and turn it in to the co-op coordinator at the end of every academic cycle.
• Student must maintain good attendance and discipline record ( in accordance with the school policy)
• Student is required to work a minimum of 36 hours in a six day cycle
• Student must notify Co-Op Coordinator and employer immediately in the event that he/she will miss a co-op work day.
• Student is responsible for having the evaluation form filled out by the employer and returned to the co-op coordinator upon return to the academic cycle
• Student will not be allowed to return the co-op site until the evaluation is completed and returned
• Student must work at a site that provides the opportunity to develop technical and employability skills not acquirable in a school-based setting but acquirable in a work-based setting.
• Student is required to work until the end of the school year, if student needs to resign from the co-op position they must write a letter of resignation and give a two week notice.
• Student must be highly recommended by shop and related teacher
• Students who do not pass MCAS must be willing to attend MCAS support classes during the academic cycle or summer MCAS support classes if available
• Students must be interviewed for a Co-Op position, exceptions apply when a student finds a job on their own or a student has been on placement at the site and is specifically requested
• A student who has a grade falling below a 70 while on Co-Op will be placed on probation for a period not more than one trimester
• A student on probation who fails to improve his/her grade to the 70 threshold and/or fails to maintain a 70 in all other subjects at the end of said trimester will lose their eligibility
• Students placed on probation are required to attend after school sessions with their Instructor to meet the Co-Op eligibility requirement of 70
• Student must not have more than nine unexcused absent or tardy days during their junior year in order to participate in the Co-Op Program
• Students must not have more than three unexcused absent or tardy days per trimester during their senior year
• Student is required to be at least sixteen years of age and work a minimum of 36 hours in a six-day cycle
• If for any reason the student is not going to make the 36 hour requirement, they must notify the Co-Op Office and Shop Instructor. They must return to school to make up the time.
• Student must notify Co-Op office, (508-998-3321 ext. 764) and employer
• Co-Op work will only take place during shop days and under NO circumstances must you work during academic days between the hours of 7:00am and 2:30 pm.
• If the student does not meet one of the requirements above, they may request a conference with the Academy Administrator and Co-Op Coordinator. The Supervisor of Attendance and/or Vice Principal and Instructor will be included when necessary. If all parties agree, a waiver may be provided.

Teacher’s Role

Teachers are required to review student’s grades and attendance for eligibility before recommending students for Cooperative Education positions. Teachers will assist Cooperative Education Coordinator by obtaining students’ resumes, informing coordinator about Co-op job leads and scheduling interviews.

Questions Teachers Must Ask Before Recommendation:

• Has this student completed two years of instruction in this vocational program?
• Has this student satisfactorily completed all appropriate safety instruction in this vocational technical program?
• Has this student attained a sufficient level of achievement in the school-based vocational technical program in preparation for transition into a work-based learning environment at this time?
• Do you recommend this student for cooperative education placement?

Employers wishing to hire students from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School for a paid position must begin the process by contacting the Cooperative Education Coordinator by email henry.degrace@gnbvt.edu or phone 508-998-3321 x764. The position offered must meet the requirements of the Child Labor Laws. The employment process includes confirmation of student eligibility, CVTE teacher’s recommendation and parental permission for student’s participation in Cooperative Education.

The Employer’s Role

The role of the employer is the key to a successful program for both the student and the company. The fact that employers step up to provide cooperative education opportunities already speaks to their commitment, and at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech we greatly appreciate the collaboration with our community members for co-op and placement opportunities.

The Employer must contact the Cooperative Education Coordinator and discuss employment opportunity, and the following information is required to hire a student.

• • Name and address of company
  • Telephone number
  • Email address of the hiring company
  • Name/telephone/email address of the student’s supervisor
  • CORI form completion for anyone supervising the student
  • Current Workers’ Compensation Certificate
  • Brief job description indicating student’s duties and responsibilities
  • Rate of pay and schedule if it differs from normal school hours

∗ NOTE: Students must be scheduled to work at least 36 hours during the six-day cycle.

Expectations of Co-Op Employers

• Be familiar with each student’s career plan
• Provide experienced supervision
• Comply with Mass Legislative Act Chapter 385: An Act Further Protecting Children (CORI-Background Check on any employee who will be one to one with our students )
• Enforce worksite safety per OSHA regulations
• Provide orientation including safety and emergency practices
• Evaluate student performance (each cycle)
• Ensure worker’s compensation coverage for the Co-Op student
• Provide a minimum of 36 hours of meaningful employment per 6 day co-op cycle
• Provide the opportunity for the student to develop technical and employability skills  not acquirable in a school-based setting but acquirable in a work-based setting
• Comply with child labor laws as they pertain to vocational students
• Notify student, co-op coordinator of any serious problem or issue
• Notify school/Co-Op Coordinator if student is injured
• Return student evaluation sheet at the end of each cycle
• Abide by Equal Opportunity laws/regulations/guidelines
• May not employ student during school hours on their academic cycle
• Follow all State and Federal labor and wage laws and regulations
• Notify the student and the Co-Op Coordinator in writing if this agreement needs to be terminated
• Complies with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring and employment practices.