Redesigning Cooperative Vocational Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This document provides a methodology for reviewing all components of a cooperative vocational education program in order to increase the program's ability to benefit students. An introduction provides an overview of cooperative vocational education. It lists benefits to the student, school, employer, and community and discusses the relationship of cooperative vocational education to educational reform efforts. The next section provides lists of performance standards and learner outcomes that are an addition to the occupational competencies required in cooperative vocational education. Suggestions for assessment and basic academic skills prerequisites are offered. The section on structure contains four options for cooperative education program structure: one-year program, two-year program, seminar-based program, and career academy-based program. Each program is described in terms of three components: classroom activities, training site activities, and curriculum. Advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed. The operations section covers these topics: required components, role of the teacher-coordinator, training station/sponsor section, legal issues, and quality program indicators. Appendixes include the following: a guide for submitting applications for expanding new regular vocational education programs, teacher-coordinator certification standards, policy on granting credit for off-campus programs, cooperative education quality factors checklist, sample forms, and a glossary. (YLB)