Harrisburg High School Cooperative Education Program


What is Cooperative Education?

The cooperative education program provides an opportunity for the student to participate in a paid or unpaid work experience in a field related to his/her career goals.

Co-op is available to senior students who have met specific school requirements. The student is released from school to continue his/her learning at a cooperative training station. Students work a minimum of 15 hours per week (Monday - Friday), receive school credit for satisfactory work performance, and are usually compensated.

A certified Cooperative Education Coordinator insures that the student and the employer are following the guidelines of the program and monitors the co-op program. The coordinator visits the place of employment to observe the student’s abilities on-the-job.

The co-op program helps form partnerships with employers, educators, community leaders, students, and parents. It helps “bridge the gap” between school and work.

Employer Responsibilities
  • provide learning opportunities in as many areas of the industry as possible
  • consent to a training agreement (contract)
  • develop a training plan detailing the learning activities the student will perform
  • train the student with transferable employability skills
  • agree to a work schedule which provides at least 15 hours of work during the school week (Monday - Friday)
  • abide by Federal and State Child Labor Laws
  • insist on good safety habits
  • sign a weekly time card verifying hours worked during the previous week
  • complete a quarterly evaluation of the student progress
  • communicate problems to the co-op coordinator immediately

Student Responsibilities
  • find a job related to his/her career goals
  • follow all rules of the school and the training station
  • consent to a training agreement
  • adhere to a training plan developed by the worksite supervisor
  • practice positive work habits and attitudes
  • consider on-the-job success as important as in-school success
  • maintain an open, cooperative attitude
  • be prompt and maintain regular attendance on-the-job and in school
  • maintain satisfactory academic standards
  • represent Harrisburg High School in a positive manner
  • arrange his/her own transportation
  • communicate job related concerns to the co-op coordinator

School Responsibilities
  • assign a certified Cooperative Education Coordinator to manage the program
  • attempt to place a student at a job site related to his/her long term goals
  • assist with job acquisition skills
  • support on-the-job training
  • communicate with the employer and student regarding employment issues
  • visit and observe the student at the training station
  • award a grade to the student

Benefits to the Employer
  • reduces training / recruiting costs
  • helps create a pool of skilled and motivated potential employees
  • improves employee retention
  • receives employee support from the school
  • forms a relationship with the school
  • can “try out” an employee prior to committing to full time employment

Benefits to the Student
  • expands career awareness
  • develops employability skills
  • discovers job market opportunities
  • applies academic concepts to the “real world”

Benefits to the School
  • extends the classroom into the community
  • becomes more responsible to employment needs of the community
  • helps school keep abreast to technological trends
  • builds a partnership with employers, students, parents, and school

Franklin County Career and Technology Center
2463 Loop Road
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Phone: (717) 263-9033
Fax: (717) 263-6568
E-mail: terry.miller@franklinctc.com
Terry Miller, Cooperative Education Coordinator

Employers / Training Sites of cooperative education students shall not discriminate in educational programs, activities, or employment practices, based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, ancestry, union membership or any other legally protected classification. Announcement of this policy is in accordance with state and federal laws including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.