HomeMy WebLinkAboutP 102 CUR - Cooperative Education and Experiential LearningPOLICY P.102.CUR
TITLE:COOPERATIVE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Date Authorized:26 April 2002
Last Revised:24 June 2024
Last Reviewed:24 June 2024
COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS RIGHTS,HUMAN RIGHTS,AND EQUITY
The Board recognizes its responsibility to ensure that this policy and associated procedures promote
and protect Indigenous rights,human rights,and equity.The Board will strive to address and
eliminate discrimination and structural and systemic barriers for students,staff,and community.
1.0 RATIONALE
To support Cooperative Education and other forms of Experiential Learning for
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board secondary school students,in compliance with the
Ontario Curriculum.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
Please refer to Appendix A for a full list of definitions of terms used in this policy.
3.0 GUIDING PRINCIPLES
3.1 The Board supports providing all students with equitable opportunities to authentically
connect learning with career-life planning,with intentional consideration for historically
underserved and marginalized students.
3.2 To this end,the Board is committed to providing student-driven Cooperative Education
and Experiential Learning that align with student goals and interest in different pathways
(workforce,college,university,apprenticeship,and entrepreneurship).
3.3 The Board is committed to removing barriers to participation of underrepresented
students in Cooperative Education and Experiential Learning.
3.4 The Board believes in Cooperative Education and Experiential Learning that help
students:
a)apply,extend,and refine skills and knowledge acquired in their school;
b)apply skills,knowledge,and habits of mind that will protect and promote their
health,safety,and well-being;
-1 -P.102.CUR
c)create and implement a learning plan that meets their particular interests,goals,
and needs;and
d)see themselves in their learning more by connecting their lived experiences to
their learning and their pathway goals;
e)engage with land-based learning;and
f)guide and support their pathway goals.
3.5 The Board encourages partnerships between schools and employers to provide
students with appropriate and relevant placements;including placements in
non-traditional areas that supports underrepresented students.
4.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES
4.1 Cooperative education,work experience,and school-work transition programs shall be
free from discrimination and harassment and shall provide all students with safe and
secure environments to enable them to participate fully and responsibly in the
educational experience.
4.2 Outreach strategies for engaging underrepresented students shall include:
a)targeted communication strategies;
b)collaboration with community organizations;
c)inclusive promotional materials;and
d)offering a diversity of community placements in a wide array of community
settings.
4.3 Schools shall adhere to the screening process established by both the District and
Ministry to ensure the employer is offering a safe,culturally responsive,and properly
supervised placement that supports the physical,emotional,and social well-being for
students.
4.4 Educators involved in Cooperative Education shall ensure,within available resources,
the provision of any accommodations and modifications required to allow exceptional
students to achieve their full potential,as described in their Individual Education Plans
(IEPs).This may include the provision of additional professional or paraprofessional
staff and the use of specialized equipment where necessary.
4.5 Ongoing monitoring of the student's placement is necessary to ensure safety and
compliance with Ontario Curriculum.
4.6 The school shall oversee and provide direction on all learning matters in all forms of
co-operative education including but not limited to in-person,virtual,part-time,full-time,
paid,and unpaid experiences.
-2 -P.102.CUR
4.7 Although the emphasis in Cooperative Education is placed on learning and is
differentiated from part-time employment,paid work shall be supported if the placement
is deemed an appropriate and meaningful learning experience.
4.8 Costs for required safety equipment or uniforms will not serve as a barrier to student
participation in a co-operative education experience.
4.9 The expectations for attendance for Cooperative Education programs should be flexible,
adaptive,and reflective of student’s learning needs,while adhering to District tracking
and monitoring responsibilities.
4.10 The Director is authorized to establish and issue such procedures as may be necessary
to implement and support this policy.
5.0 APPENDICES
Appendix A:Policy Definitions
6.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
The Education Act,2000
Policy/Program Memorandum No.76A,Workplace Safety and Insurance Coverage for
Students in Work Education Programs
Choices into Action,Ministry of Education,1999
The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12,Cooperative Education,2018
The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12,Guidance and Career Education,2018
OSBIE Risk Management Advisory C.3:Cooperative Education/Work Experience Programs re
WSIB
OCDSB Policy P.032.SCO:Safe Schools (Managing Student Behaviour)
OCDSB Policy P.098.CUR:Equity and Inclusive Education
OCDSB Procedure PR.521.SCO:Safe Schools
OCDSB Procedure PR.618.CUR:Antiracism and Ethnocultural Equity
OCDSB Procedure PR.627.CUR:Cooperative Education and Experiential Learning
-3 -P.102.CUR
APPENDIX A:POLICY DEFINITIONS
In this policy,
Board means the Board of Trustees.
Cooperative Education is a planned learning experience,for which credits are earned,that
integrates classroom theory and learning experiences at a workplace to enable students to apply and
refine the knowledge and skills acquired in a related curriculum course or a locally developed course.
District means the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
Experiential Learning includes planned learning experiences that take place in the community,
including job shadowing and job twinning,work experience and virtual work experience providing
students who are enrolled in courses of all types and in all disciplines with the opportunity to enhance
their school programs.
-4 -P.102.CUR