Cooperative education is a hands-on method of learning that allows students to earn secondary school credits towards their OSSD by combining in-school studies with related work experiences. The student’s learning activities at the work placement are closely aligned to one or more related course(s) in which the student is enrolled or which he or she has successfully completed. The cooperative education course and the related course(s) together constitute a student’s cooperative education program.
The cooperative education course includes pre-placement, integration and placement components. The Ontario Ministry of Education Policy document for Cooperative Education and Other Forms of Experiential Learning, provides an overview of required hours for each of these components.
Students must remain at their placements until the date stipulated in their Work Education Agreement, even in cases where the required course hours have been completed before the end of the school term. The completion date of this agreement coincides with the completion date of other school courses.
Cooperative education will be available to Canadian Global School students from Grades 11-12. It is possible for a Grade 10 student to be placed in the Cooperative education program, but it will be determined by the principal on a case-by-case basis.
Credits at Work
Credits at Work provides employed adults who are unable to attend day school the opportunity to earn credits toward their high school diploma while at work and receiving their regular pay. Job expectations are linked to credit courses which the student has earned or is currently earning. Students earn one credit for every 110 hours on the job.
Employee's Responsibility
Prior to counting work hours and earning credits, Credits at Work students must:
- Pay their Registration Fee
- Contact and Virtually meet their Credits at Work Teacher
- Complete a pre-placement package within 1 week of registration
Once the pre-placement package is submitted, the student, employer and teacher sign a Work Education Agreement (required of all co-op credits). The Work Education Agreement states that the employer supports the employee in the Credits at Work process.
Once signed, hours of paid work will start to count towards credit(s). During the Credits at Work hours, students must complete and submit weekly log sheets/journals and do some assignments.
Employers for Credits at Work will be asked to:
- Sign the Work Education Agreement
- Confirm WSIB coverage for the workplace
- Sign weekly log sheets prepared by the student to verify student’s tasks, hours, and dates of work for the Ministry of Education
- Discuss, with the teacher, the student’s job performance a minimum of two times during the placement
