Co-operative education involves partnership between education and business, industry, the trades and professional organizations with the purpose of extending learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.

As one of several experiential learning programs available to students, co-operative education offers students an opportunity to earn high school credits through a course that integrates classroom theory with learning experiences in a workplace. Students apply and further develop skills related to a high school course and career area of choice.

By participating in co-operative education, students develop their skills, interests and professional connections while still in high school creating a personal career plan based on realistic, practical information.

Students learn about themselves, the expectations of the world of work and the realities of a profession while developing the work habits, attitudes and job skills necessary for a successful transition from secondary school to post-secondary education or the workplace.

Benefits

• An opportunity to earn academic credits while exploring career and education choices
• Earn credits towards your diploma
• Make more informed education and career planning choices
• Gain a competitive edge in more constrained economic times
• Move more confidently into post-secondary education or the world of work
• Gain valuable related experience as required for some post secondary programs
• Choose OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) as part of a skilled trade and have

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities pay for your tuition for a registered apprenticeship.

Co-op placements are available in a broad range of sectors including:

Health and Life Sciences
Business,
Media
Performing and Visual Arts
Social and Community Services
Skilled Trades
Hospitality,
Child Education
Culinary Arts
Computer Engineering
and more…

Placements are located and assessed by the Co-op teacher.

All placements are screened for providing real work experience in a safe learning environment free from discrimination and harassment, following safe practices and providing supervised learning experiences.
Students are regularly monitored by their co-op teacher and have a Personalized Placement Learning Plan developed by all parties: teacher, supervisor and student.

More information is available in the TDSB Experiential learning Guide for Students & Parents brochure, available through Student Services or the Co-operative Education Program Office.< /p>

Co-op is available to any student with interest and commitment to exploring a career area of choice.
It is open to students studying at the essential, college or university level with a variety of post-secondary destinations: college, apprenticeship, university or direct entry into the workplace.
Although a student can apply in any grade, it is recommended that students be in grade 11 or 12 or as chosen by some, after earning a graduation diploma and before moving to post-secondary learning.

• Students request Co-op on their course selection option sheet and complete a Co-operative Education Application available through Student Services.
• Students complete an interview with a counsellor and the co-op teacher to ensure appropriate education and career planning choices.

The Co-op teacher arranges for the appropriate learning placement based on the student’s interest and readiness.

Co-op is scheduled into a student’s timetable so as not to conflict with other program choices or requirements.

Every effort is made to provide students with meaningful and relevant co-op learning opportunitieswithin reasonable proximity to transportation and the school.
Students must attend pre-employment and integration co-op classes as well as their co-op placements.

Co-op is available in both semester one and two, with four or two credit options:

• Full day, 4 credit co-op provides convenient scheduling and broad range learning opportunities.
• Half day, 2 credit co-op with morning or afternoon placement. Some restrictions apply.

Students earn subject related Co-op credits in any subject that links with the skills or content needed in the career area of choice. Students must have successfully completed the related subject, or be enrolled in the course concurrent with the co-op experience.

For example, if a co-op student has successfully completed or is enrolled in grade 11, Communications Technology for one credit, the student is eligible to earn two additional subject related, Co-op credits in Communications Technology, TGJ3M for a related Co-op experience.

Two credit Co-op is linked to one related subject area.

 

Previous or Concurrent Related Subject	Co-op Subject Related Credit	Total Credit Value including Co-op
TGJ3M = 1 credit	TGJ3MC = 2 credits	TGJ3M+ TGJ3MC = 3 credits

Four credit Co-op is linked to two different related subject areas, for example TGJ3M and ENG3C/U.

 

Previous or Concurrent Related Subject	Co-op Subject Related Credit	Total Credit Value including Co-op
TGJ3M = 1 credit	TGJ3MC = 2credits	TGJ3M + TGJ3MC =  3 credits
ENG3U = 1 credit	ENG3UC = 2 credits	ENG3U + ENG3UC = 3 credits

Enquire about additional Co-operative Education Learning opportunities through Student Services or the Co-op Program Office.

• OYAP
• Accelerated Co-op
• Specialized Co-op
• Dual Credit Co-op
• SWAC

Or, for more information, visit the TDSB website for Experiential Learning