Cooperative Education
Cooperative Education for Employers
Cooperative Education is a partnership between the ENSATS community and employers designed to provide students with practical employment experience in the workplace. Employers mentor students and help develop the range and diversity of skills expected in a workplace environment. Students receive credit for their CTAE program by participating in this work placement program. Students must meet and maintain eligibility requirements related to attendance, grades, conduct, and successful completion of OSHA 10-hour Certification, or students could be removed from their placement. While on the job, employers are expected to foster the growth and development of students. In many cases, this is the student’s foray into the workplace and technical and employability skills, such as communication, are developed on the job. Students and employers maintain and submit time sheets to track attendance, hours, and employer feedback.
Employer benefits
- Provides an efficient, cost effective method of recruiting employees
- Students are trained in basic safety and occupational skills
- Students are OSHA-10 certified and many have additional industry-specific certifications
- Enhances partnership between school and community
Employer responsibilities
- Provide a minimum of 30 hours each 5-day CTAE cycle
- Ensure assignments are related to students’ technical training
- Provide continuous supervision
- Must adhere to MA Child Labor Laws and comply with background check requirement (CORI)
- Provide proof of Workers Compensation Insurance
Step 1
Check to make sure as an employer you agree to:
- Provide jobs that directly align with the student’s CTAE program.
- Provide students with 30 hours minimum during their CTAE cycle, which is every OTHER Wednesday-Tuesday (typical week, sometimes varies) and they do not need to be traditional school hours.
- Provide supervision at all times.
- Pay students minimum wage, or more.
- Provide student with workmen’s compensation insurance coverage, and provide an active policy binder.
- Allow any and all supervisors, or people they would be left alone with, to submit to a CORI background check and personally meet a school official at a work site.
- Allow a school representative to conduct a safety inspection.
- Complete the necessary Cooperative Education paperwork that will be provided to you once you establish communication with the Career Counselor.
Step 2
Speak to the Career Counselors about employing Co-op students
Please reach out to the Career Counselor of the CTAE program your business is interested in.
Ms. Kristin Doherty
Cooperative Education Instructor
KDoherty@essextech.net
ext: 2103
Ms. Elizabeth Shea
Cooperative Education Instructor
EShea@essextech.net
ext: 2102
Other Job Options
If your job does not fit the criteria for cooperative education, you are welcome to register for our online job board.