Madison Park Co-Op Initiative
Madison Park Co-Op Expansion: Creating Career Pathways in the City of Boston
The Office of Workforce Development has partnered with Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to expand Co-Op opportunities across City departments. This partnership aims to create a pipeline for students to gain exposure to municipal careers and industry-related work that aligns with their vocational studies. Students are currently employed in:
- Parks and Recreation
- Property Management
- Inspectional Services
Through hands-on, career-connected learning, Madison Park students are gaining real-world work experience, developing industry-aligned skills, and earning a good wage, all while continuing their high school education. The expansion of Madison Park's Co-Op program reflects the City’s commitment to building equitable workforce pathways for Boston youth.
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Get Involved
Interested in becoming a Co-Op Employer Partner? Email Mike Norris at mnorris@bostonpublicschools.org.
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Information for Students
Benefits:
- Opportunity to apply technical training and develop additional skills.
- Chance to test a career choice with real-world experience.
- Gain an awareness of the workplace atmosphere.
- Develop confidence and maturity.
- Build a record of job experiences, increasing future employment.
- Establish financial responsibility.
- Presents the opportunity to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.
Requirements:
- Students must maintain high academic and attendance standards and all school eligibility requirements to remain on Co-op.
- Students are expected to report to work on time, follow the assigned work schedule, and be dressed appropriately for work.
- Students are expected to display a positive work ethic and attitude toward their work and their co-workers.
- Follow all safety rules and procedures. Work safely at all times!
- Provide your transportation to work.
- Students must contact both the employer and the co-op office in the event of an absence.
- Develop a career plan.
Information for Employers
Benefits of hiring co-op students:
- Provides an efficient and cost-effective method of recruiting new employees.
- Access to a talented pool of students trained in basic safety practices and occupational skills.
- Access to a talented pool of students with certifications, including OSHA 10 and ServSafe, and other industry credentials.
- Allows employers to provide input to the school on industry trends, standards, and training needs.
- Creates and builds relations between the school and the community.
Responsibilities:
- Provide a minimum of 30 hours during the student's Monday to Friday Co-Op cycle.
- Ensure activities are related to the student’s technical training.
- Provide supervision by an experienced professional.
- Evaluate the students' performance and submit the students' time sheets.
- Adhere to state and federal child labor laws, hour restrictions, and compensate students with appropriate wages.
- Report student absences to the school.
- Follow equal opportunity rules and regulations.
- Provide safety training to the students.
- Provide a safe and supportive work environment.
- Provide Workers' Compensation Insurance for all students.
- Complete and sign the school's Cooperative Education Agreement form, along with all necessary paperwork.
- Abide by the school CORI/SORI policy.
- Report work-related injuries or accidents to the school Co-Op office.
Become a Co-op Employer Partner!
Get Involved- Automotive Technology
- Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing
- Carpentry
- Cosmetology
- Culinary Arts
- Dental Assisting
- Electricity
- Exploratory
- Facilities Management
- Design and Visual Communications
- Graphic Communications
- Health Assisting (Nursing)
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Hospitality Management
- Information Support Services and Networking (Computer Technology)
- Marketing
- Medical Assisting
- Metal Fabrication
- Plumbing
- Programming and Web Development
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
Email Mike Norris at mnorris@bostonpublicschools.org to get involved.
Employer Frequently Asked Questions
Employer FAQsYou should begin by contacting the school Co-Op office. The school's Co-Op Coordinator will determine if the program is right for you and then guide you through the placement process and employer requirements. The school works with companies ranging from small to large.
No, most of the Co-Op sites have work hours that are typical of that particular industry. Therefore, to create a real-world experience, the work hours may be outside of school hours. Some industries may have working hours that include evenings and weekends. However, the employer must still commit to providing the student with at least 30 hours during their Co-Op week.
Some programs do have students available to work both weeks. You may want to consider hiring two students, one for each week. Two students on alternating weeks could take the place of one full-time employee.
Yes, students will be getting graded for Co-Op by submitting timesheets. They must be turned in every week.
Students' skills and readiness can vary. Often, a Co-Op job is the student's first job. All students have basic skills and knowledge related to their industry. The Co-Op program is not designed to replace experienced tradesmen or personnel. All employers must commit to spending substantial time training the students. If the employer cannot provide adequate training, then the Co-Op program may not be right for you.
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Get Involved
Interested in becoming a Co-Op Employer Partner? Email Mike Norris at mnorris@bostonpublicschools.org.
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