Components of the Co-operative Education Program 

The Co-operative Education course is made up of three required components. Students must successfully participate in all three components in order to earn a co-op credit.

Pre-Placement

The first few weeks of the course focus on workplace readiness, health and safety training, and the completion of all required documentation prior to starting the placement.

Work Placement

Students complete a supervised workplace placement aligned with their interests and pathway goals. This is where students apply their learning in a real-world setting.

Integration Days

Throughout the semester, students attend scheduled in-class check-ins (approximately once per month) to reflect on their learning, complete course assignments, and receive ongoing support.

What training does this student receive at school?

Before beginning their placement, students receive foundational workplace training at school, including:

• Basic health and safety awareness

• WHMIS training

• Labour regulations and employee rights

• Professional communication and workplace expectations

• The importance of confidentiality and professionalism

Depending on the placement, some students in construction-related settings also complete Working at Heights safety training (please check with the co-op teacher).

The placement supervisor must provide site-specific training before the student begins their placement. This includes workplace-specific health and safety procedures, as well as any required equipment training.

What Site-Specific health and safety information should be covered with the student before they begin?

Supervisors are asked to review workplace safety procedures with the student, including (but not limited to):

• Emergency and fire procedures

• Injury reporting procedures

• Safe lifting practices 

• Chemical hazards and WHMIS-related procedures

• Safe and appropriate use of tools, equipment, and machinery

• Workplace-specific hazards (e.g., noise, heat, sharp objects, biohazards)

• Expectations related to cleanliness, hygiene, and infection prevention

• Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and proper use

• Any additional safety training specific to the work site

What about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Students are expected to follow all workplace health and safety requirements, including the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required by the placement.

Employers are responsible for informing students of required PPE and providing any site-specific or specialized equipment needed for the role. Students are responsible for purchasing their own personal protective items and standard workplace attire not provided by the employer, such as closed-toe footwear, steel-toed boots, hard hats, non-slip shoes, and appropriate work clothing.

All PPE expectations should be reviewed with the student before the placement begins. If there are any questions or concerns regarding PPE requirements, please contact the co-op teacher.

What if something happens?

Students participating in the Co-operative Education program are covered by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage through the Ministry of Education in the event of a workplace injury.

In addition, required legal and consent documentation is completed to ensure that students and parents are informed of potential risks associated with workplace learning.

If a workplace injury, incident, or safety concern occurs, the co-op teacher should be contacted immediately.

Where is my co-op student?

If your student is late or absent, we ask you to please contact the co-op teacher right away. They can be reached via text, phone, or email.

Do I have to pay the student?

Typically, co-op placements are unpaid, as students are working toward earning secondary school credits and gaining valuable workplace experience through the program.

If an employer chooses to pay a co-op student during or outside of the co-op hours listed on the WEA form (for example, after school or on weekends), the student is considered an employee and the employer is responsible for providing WSIB coverage for those paid hours. WSIB coverage through the Ministry of Education applies only to unpaid co-op placements.

Can a co-op placement be terminated?

Yes. Employers have the right to terminate a co-op placement at any time if workplace expectations are not being met.

Whenever possible, we appreciate the opportunity to discuss concerns and support remediation prior to dismissal. However, immediate termination may occur when necessary. If a placement is terminated, please notify the co-op teacher as soon as possible so appropriate next steps can be taken.

Can my student work during their PA days, holidays, or weekends? 

Students are not permitted to work on PA Days, school holidays, or weekends, regardless of whether the placement is in person or virtual.

Can a co-op student work outside the hours listed on the WEA or travel to an alternate work location?

Yes, provided the work occurs Monday to Friday. Approval is not guaranteed and must be requested in advance of the desired date.

If approved, an Amendment to the WEA form must be completed and signed before any additional hours are worked or before a change in work location.

My student is working remotely. How does this work? 

Students completing a virtual co-op placement are expected to be available and reachable during their scheduled work hours.

Supervisors may choose the level of oversight that best fits the role or project. Some supervisors meet with their student daily, while others meet once or twice per week. Meetings may take place using any agreed-upon platform, such as Zoom, Google Meet, or by phone.

Supervisors should also be reachable by email during the student’s scheduled co-op hours. Check-ins at the start and end of the placement are required for both the supervisor and the student.

Students must continue to follow all workplace expectations, including professionalism, communication, and completion of assigned tasks, even in a virtual setting.

Do you have an official TDSB Co-op Supervisor's Manual? 

Yes! It can be found here.