Co-operative Education Employers

Are you an employer who is interested in working with Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) co-operative education students? Co-operative education and experiential learning allow students to gain practical work experience to help prepare them for the future. For employers, having a co-op student is beneficial because students bring fresh perspectives, boundless energy, and innovative ideas that can drive your business forward.

Currently, we are seeking employers who work in the fields below:

Health
Legal
Customer Service
Early Childcare
Skilled Trades (i.e. Automotive Services, Culinary, Electrical, General Carpentry, Hairstylist, Welding)

Your involvement and guidance in this process is valuable to prospective students and allows DCDSB students to develop knowledge, attitudes, and essential skills that are vital to success in any workplace. If you would like to learn more about how you can become an employer for DCDSB co-operative education students, please fill out the form below.

Prospective Co-Operative Education Employer Form

Frequently Asked Questions for Co-op Employers

What is co-operative education?

Co-op is a unique program that integrates academic study with practical workplace experience. A co-op credit provides students with an opportunity to gain practical work experience and to "test drive" jobs in order to help prepare them for the future. Our high schools offer a range of different co-op programs - all of which are aimed at providing students with real-world work experience.

How does a co-op placement work?

Typical co-op programs have students working from two to four periods a day. Each student has a Personalized Placement Learning Plan, which provides the framework for the program. While students spend most of their time at the workplace, they do complete an in-school pre-placement session and participate in integration days with their co-op teacher and fellow co-op students.

Why does co-op work for employers?

Some of the benefits include being able to:

Recruit and "try out" employees you might like to hire in the future
Draw from a pool of energetic, motivated, job-ready students who are ready to apply the latest in technology and ideas
Hire students you have trained for after-school, weekend or summer work
Help to train the work force of the future in a way that helps keep our economy stimulated and renewed
Take the opportunity to participate in a positive community partnership

What are my responsibilities as a co-op employer?

Provide a safe working and learning environment
Designate one employee to be responsible for supervising and evaluating each student
Provide students with written and oral feedback on their performance in the workplace
Provide orientation and workplace-specific health and safety training
Provide challenging learning experiences that will encourage personal growth and help students to develop career goals
Help students function as an integral part of the team
Verify and sign the student's weekly log of hours worked and tasks performed

What are the responsibilities of the co-op student?

Comply with all company rules regarding dress, safety codes, work schedules and policies
Work in a courteous, responsible and business-like manner
Show initiative
Observe and comply with the rules and regulations of the work placement and the school, including confidentiality requirements
Comply with school attendance policies in both the work placement and classroom sessions
Submit assignments as required
Inform the placement supervisor and the co-op teacher in advance if they are unable to report to their work placement
Work with supervisors and teachers to ensure that problems are dealt with immediately

Am I expected to pay co-op students?

No. Students in high school co-op programs are earning secondary school credits. In certain situations, remuneration can be arranged, but that is an agreement between the employer, the student and the co-op teacher. If students are working outside of the agreed hours on the Work Education Agreement form, students should be treated as regular part-time employees.

Who pays the Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) premium?

Unpaid co-op students are covered through a policy taken out by the Ministry of Education. For this coverage to be in place, the Work Education Agreement form must be signed by all parties before the student begins work. Student Accident Insurance is also available to all students, but such insurance is optional and is paid for by the student.

When is the student monitored by the teacher?

The workplace supervisor can expect the full support and assistance from the teacher who monitors the student's progress regularly throughout the training period. The goal is to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership is maintained between the workplace supervisor, the teacher and the student.

How is attendance monitored?

Students are responsible for calling the workplace supervisor and the co-op teacher if they will be late or absent from the workplace. The teacher maintains records along with the weekly student logs. If the student is frequently absent or late, the workplace supervisor should remind the student of the company's policy. After discussing the situation with the student and co-op teacher, the student may be sent back to the school if satisfactory improvement is not demonstrated.

What hours does the student work?

The student will provide a calendar that outlines the specific days and hours that they are available, according to the specific school timetable. If students are employed beyond their co-op work placement hours, it is assumed that they will be paid and that the employer will be responsible for the WSIB coverage during those hours.

Which specialized programs are offered at our high schools that benefit employers?

Our high schools offer a wide range of specialized courses and programs for students, the skills from which are easily transferable to the world of work. Included are Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM).

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

Any OYAP student is one who is earning co-op credits for work experience in any of the apprenticeship occupations. The student may or may not be formally registered as an apprentice while attending secondary school. OYAP is a school-to-work transition program that allows students to complete high school while developing work skills and building up hours towards the completion of an apprenticeship.

Our accelerated OYAP includes the following trades:

Automotive Service Technician
Cook/Chef
Industrial Mechanical Millwright
Electrician
General Carpenter
Hairstylist
Plumber
Welder

Please visit our OYAP webpage to learn more information about the OYAP programs available in the Durham Catholic District School Board.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

A SHSM is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). It enables students to gain sector-specific skills and knowledge in the context of engaging, career-related learning environments and helps them focus on graduation and their post-secondary goals. Co-op is one of the components of SHSM.

Our SHSM programs include:

Arts & Culture
Business
Construction
Health & Wellness
Horticulture & Landscaping
Hospitality & Tourism
Justice, Community Safety & Emergency Services
Non-Profit
Sports
Transportation

Please visit our SHSM webpage to learn more about SHSM at Durham Catholic District School Board.

How can I get involved?

All of our high schools are actively seeking new opportunities to partner with the business community for student co-op placements. You are encouraged to fill out this inquiry form or contact the Co-operative Education Department at your local DCDSB secondary school to get more information or to book an appointment.