​CSPG 37 - Cooperative Education (7-12)

Modified: December 1, 2018

Cooperative Education is the science or art involved in teaching the technical skills, knowledge acquisition and workplace training essential to students. Students with specific career objectives are matched with related employment experiences while they attend planned periods of career related classroom theory.

Grade Level Scope of Certificate

An educator holding a valid Pennsylvania certificate for Cooperative Education is qualified to teach cooperative education in grades 7 through 12.

Certification Assignment

• An educator holding a valid PA certificate for cooperative education is qualified to teach cooperative education training and courses. This includes the Diversified Occupations program.
• Cooperative Education is a planned method of instruction developed through a signed cooperative arrangement among school representatives, students, parents and employers in the community.
• Cooperative Education provides students with an opportunity to alternate in-school academic and vocational technical instruction in entry-level paid employment in an occupational field, in which the student’s total occupational work experience is planned, coordinated and supervised by the school in close cooperation with the employer.

Certification Pathways

Cooperative Education certification requires one of the following pathways:

• A full stand-alone, state-approved Instructional certification program for Cooperative Education; or
• A pre-existing Pennsylvania Instructional I or II certificate, or Vocational Instructional I or II certificate, and specific cooperative education courses required by the state-approved college certification program.

Special Considerations

• The certified educator may teach cooperative education courses to special education or gifted students within the scope of the certificate.
• An educator certified in this field may:
• Provide professional development;
• Serve in the role of mentor/advisor; and
• Assist students in understanding how to read content area materials.

References

Program Specific Guidelines for Certification

PA Public School Code: §1202, §1212, §1604

22 PA Code: Chapter 4: §4.22, §4.23, §4.31

Chapter 49: §49.11, §49.81, §49.142

This revision supersedes all earlier CSPG’s carrying this number and/or addressing this subject. Previous printing dates on this subject: 1973, 3/75, 3/78, 2/82, 1/87, 7/04.

Summary of Changes