Co-Op Programs on the High School Level

Providing Opportunities for Students At Risk of Dropping Out

Dec 30, 2008

Through partnerships with local businesses, high schools can benefit significantly by establishing co-op experiences for students not academically successful.

Co-op programs are not just for colleges and universities. In today’s economically difficult times, setting up high school co-op programs in partnership with local businesses may enable high school juniors and seniors to engage in employment that may parallel classroom tracks of study while providing employers with reliable help.

Partial Career Oriented Programs in High School

Any high school can facilitate a meaningful “Career Day” for students that exposes them to potential occupational opportunities. Taking a Career Day one step further, high schools can set aside a number of days (between semesters works best) when seniors spend the day “shadowing” a career professional.

This type of experience can be documented through student memoirs and/or presentations. Some schools that utilize this program incorporate it into a definitive “senior project” that serves as a significant grade and is even required for graduation. At the very least, students can create portfolios that detail their experiences.

Co-op Programs for Upper Class Students

High schools can establish partnership programs with local business, as well as community service organizations that will commit to hiring responsible and interested students, as part of the final high school experiences. Such programs can serve both students considering further education in college or those desiring to enter the workforce after graduation.

Businesses are always eager to hire dependable part time workers and this program can fill that need. Linking high school academic requirements with co-op commitments may ensure several things:

Targeting Students Considered “At Risk”

Co-op or “work study” programs are well suited to students that appear to be academically unsuccessful in high school. Enabling such students to learn on-the-job skills while tailoring an academic program in tandem with the job internship requirements will build confidence, self-esteem, and motivation.

College-bound students, however, can benefit as well. Students looking toward careers in the medical field may benefit from a co-op experience within the health care community. The same is true of other college degree fields. The problem with college-bound students is that their academic schedules are often too filled and thus preclude meaningful co-op experiences.

Further, students involved in co-op type programs will have meaningful summer and school break employment, providing further skills and the ability to earn and save money. The issue of paying students in a co-op program should not even be broached given legal work stipulations. The only exceptions would fall under volunteer, service oriented work commitments.

The Time Commitment by Serious High School Facilitators

At a time of universal budget cuts, the last thing school systems want to add is another program that might increase facilitating staff or demand new funds. There is never enough money in education. Setting up a co-op program through a high school Guidance Department need not increase school budgets significantly, but school administrators and system leaders must assess the overall benefit of such programs.

Exploring grant opportunities for such programs may also produce results. Additionally, large corporate entities within the community might be solicited to underwrite partial costs of facilitating the program. At a time when many state governors are exploring ways to cut the growing high school drop out rate, any type of co-op programs may work to reduce the numbers.

The copyright of the article Co-Op Programs on the High School Level in At-Risk Youth Support is owned by Michael Streich. Permission to republish Co-Op Programs on the High School Level in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.