Work-Based Learning

General

Are Career Technical Education Programs (Chapter 74) Required to offer cooperative education?
Programs are required to offer work-based learning. Although not required, Cooperative Education, a work-based learning experience, is a signature quality component of Career Technical Education programs.

How do I determine if my student is ready for cooperative education?
Students may begin cooperative education after completing one and a half years or the equivalent of a program. Most importantly, program administrators and instructors should be determining the standard and skills that students will practice and gain proficiency in through the cooperative education and that they have the foundational skills to benefit from the cooperative education experience.

Educator Licensure

Must schools have a licensed cooperative education coordinator?
No, cooperative education may be supervised by either a licensed cooperative education coordinator or a licensed career technical educator.  Having a dedicated position as the Cooperative education coordinator helps to have dedicated resources for building high quality partnerships with employers leading to high quality learning experiences for students.

Must schools have minimum entrance requirements for student participation in cooperative education?
Students must be enrolled in an approved career technical education (chapter 74) program and have demonstrated the acquisition of the knowledge and skills in the applicable Career Technical Education Framework and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks associated with at least one- and one-half years of full-time study, and in no case enroll students earlier than midway through the junior year.

Employer Partner Requirements

Does an employer need to hold worker’s compensation insurance?
Yes. To determine if an employer holds worker’s compensation, contact the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents at:

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-industrial-accidents

Can Massachusetts students work in cooperative education employment in other states?
In order for a Massachusetts student to work in cooperative education employment in outside of Massachusetts, the state in which they would work must allow for it and all labor laws that are pertinent to that state must be followed. This can be a complicated matter, requiring much research on the part of the cooperative education coordinator beginning with the pertinent state’s Department of Labor. Note that Massachusetts Cooperative Education Employment Permits are issued for Massachusetts, only.

The following are useful links to bordering states’ appropriate web sites:

New Hampshire: https://www.nh.gov/labor/

Vermont: https://labor.vermont.gov/

Rhode Island: https://dlt.ri.gov/

Connecticut: http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/

CORI Checks

When should conduct CORI checks on the employers and their employees who are involved with cooperative education?
M.G.L. c. 71, § 38R requires all schools to conduct criminal background checks on current and prospective employees and volunteers, including those who regularly provide school related transportation to students, who may have direct and unmonitored contact with children. CORI must be obtained from the CHSB at least every three years during an individual’s term of employment or service. Please refer to the Advisory on Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Checks at http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisory/cori.html

Program Implementation

How often must a cooperative education coordinator or technical education teacher visit the cooperative education site?
Visits should be sufficient to support the student in the cooperative education experience, including understanding the skills and experience the student is obtaining through the placement.

May students in Career Technical Education (Chapter 74) programs be self-employed for the cooperative education component of the program?
No. State and federal laws governing cooperative education for high school students consistently define cooperative education as a program for a student under an employer.

Can cooperative education be offered in the summer as a graded course?
Yes. A school may offer a cooperative education program in the summer, provided that the school has policies and procedures for the summer cooperative education program. The program should be directly connected to the standards and skills of the students’ program and a cooperative education coordinator or career technical educator should be engaged in implementing and overseeing the program and student learning. The policies and procedures must be in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines regarding cooperative education including those related to supervision by the school.

Can students in summer employment have the same permissions as their cooperative placement?
No. Students under 18 on non-cooperative education course summer jobs, regardless of whether they worked with the same employer as part of a cooperative experience during the school year, are prohibited from performing work that minors under 18 are prohibited from performing.

A student who is under 18 and employed cannot perform prohibited work unless the student is enrolled in the cooperative education course that is part of a Chapter 74- approved vocational technical education program. (prohibited by M.G.L. c. 149 Section 62A MASSACHUSETTS LAW RESTRICTING MINORS UNDER 18 FROM CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS, and the Code of Federal Regulations Title 29 (CFR 29) Part 570.51-570.68; Code of Federal Regulations Title 29 (CFR 29) Part 570.50 (c) (1) and the Child Labor Bulletin 101 – Child Labor Requirements in Nonagricultural Occupations under the Fair Labor Standards Act WH – Revised March 2001)

Child Labor Laws

What is the appropriate employment license for students participating in Cooperative Education?
In place of the standard work permit, a special Cooperative Education Employment Permit must be obtained by all minors who will be employed in cooperative education. The permits are issued by the superintendent of the school district where the minor is enrolled in a Chapter 74 program. The permit is retained by the employer, but returned to the student when the co-op ends; the student returns the permit to either the Superintendent or co-op coordinator when the permit expires.

Does the limited exemption for 17-year-old persons to drive vehicles on public roads subject to a number of conditions mean that a student enrolled in cooperative education that is part of a Career Technical Education program (chapter 74) may be allowed to operate vehicles off-roads in the automotive shop or yard?
A 17-year-old student enrolled in a cooperative education program that is part of a Chapter 74-approved vocational technical education program in automotive technology or automotive collision repair and refinishing may operate a motor vehicle on or off the roadway with restrictions.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/34-child-labor-motor-vehicles

A senior in a program, who is 17 and will not turn 18 until summer after graduation, is participating in cooperative education for their program. The student has been issued a Cooperative Education Employment Permit. The student will graduate from the program on June 11th of this year. The employer wishes to continue with this student and has asked if the student can continue under the existing employment permit until his 18th birthday.
MA law (M.G.L. c. 149 section 62A), includes the following:

“The provisions of sections sixty-one and sixty-two prohibiting the employment of certain minors shall not prohibit the employment of minors who are graduates of trade or vocational high schools; provided that such minors are employed in the same occupation as they were trained for in such trade or vocational school.” Thus, the 17-year-old student should continue under the permit.

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