| Business Cooperative Education (BCE) |
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| How does BCE work?
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| BCE is a specialized program designed to prepare students for employment in business occupations. The student should be a junior or senior in high school at least 16 years of age, have successfully completed a core course in Business Technology Education, have a social security card, and reliable transportation. Students take required high school courses in the morning and receive on-the-job training in occupations of their choice in the afternoon. Typically, students report to work at 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m., however, other hours can be arranged. Students are usually scheduled for 20 hours of work each week. |
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Students’ responsibilities |
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Be punctual and display good work habits |
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Abide by all rules and regulations set by the teacher and the employer |
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Work for the best interest of the employer |
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| Students’ benefits |
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Gain practical work experience toward career goals |
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Develop leadership qualities |
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Build self-confidence |
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Develop responsibility |
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Develop good work experiences |
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Learn to work with people |
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Provide job knowledge and skills |
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Can lead to full-time employment |
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Teachers’ responsibilities |
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Work closely with business representatives in determining job placement, planning training, and providing related classroom instruction |
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Acquaint students with occupational opportunities and requirements |
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Visit student trainees at least once each grading period |
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Communicate with job supervisors |
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| Employers’ benefits and responsibilities |
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Gain access to students with special abilities. Sample job titles include: |
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Accounting Clerk |
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Administrative Assistant |
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Computer Support Specialist |
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Data Entry Specialist |
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General Office Clerk |
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Network Support Technician |
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Web Designer |
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Train future employees |
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Assist in the education of youth |
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Participating businesses |
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Attorney offices |
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Banks |
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Corporate offices |
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Educational institutions |
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Government agencies |
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Information technology businesses |
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Insurance offices |
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Medical offices |
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Professional offices |
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Real estate companies |
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Service companies |
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Travel agencies |
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Program areas |
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Administrative Support |
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Business Administration |
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Information Technology |
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| FAQ |
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| When is the best time for employers to hire trainees? |
| Students may be placed at training agencies any time throughout the school year. Arrangements for the employment of students may be made with the cooperative teacher at a mutually acceptable time |
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| What wages do students receive? |
| In accordance with state and federal employment regulations, each student receives a wage that is comparable to the wage paid a beginning employee in that particular occupation |
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| What happens if a BCE student is absent from school? |
| Cooperative students may not go to work on the days that they are absent from school. The teacher must be called by the student before school to report the absence. The student must also notify the employer if he/she is going to be absent from work. |
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| May a company dismiss a BCE student? |
| Yes. A student performing unsatisfactorily on the job can be dismissed. The company should notify the teacher that the student is in danger of losing the job. No firm should keep a student who is not an asset to the business |
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PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS