Bay City Public Schools Work Based Learning

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Bay City, MI
Bay City Public Schools Work Based Learning

Work-Based Learning is an integral part of the total secondary school program, which recognizes the value of supervised work as a lea

Summary of Co-Op

• Student works an average of 10 hours a week
Students under 18 years of age may work 24 hours per week while school is in session
Most co-op students work 10-20 hours per week

• Student is paid minimum wage:
Student can be paid $7.25 (federal min. wage) until 18 years old; (optional 90 training wage between $4.25 and $7.25) when student turns 18 Michigan minimum wage of $7

.40 must be paid; increasing to $8.15 on September 1.

• Employer must have Workers Compensation and Liability Insurances

• Students under 18 may not work alone for extended periods (i.e.: an entire shift)

• Work experience is worth 2 courses of school credit per term for student; student receives grade

• Student released from school for 2 course hours to increase work availability
Students available to work mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends
Mornings: as early as 6 a.m.-10 a.m.; 7:30-10:30; 8:30-11:30; etc. Afternoons: 12:30 p.m.-Variable; students under 18 can only work until 10:30 p.m. Student work schedule is up to employer and student

When a business says that they are willing to consider a student, I send resumes and transcripts of interested students. Then, you would interview any students that you wanted. Finally, you would decide if you were interested in hiring any of the candidates. At that time we would sign a training agreement. After a student is hired, I would visit every 9 weeks to make sure everything was going as planned. If at any time, you had a problem, I would work with you in solving it. Bay City Public schools usually has over 100 co-ops a year working at various businesses in the tri city area; and this has been a wonderful experience for everyone. Reasons to hire a co-op student:
• Co-op students are a source of new workers who are receptive to instruction and motivated
• Co-op applicants are pre-screened before being sent to employer for interview
• Studies have shown that employers retain a high percentage of co-op students after graduation
• The employer becomes a partner in selecting, instructing, and training young workers
• The employer has the assistance of the school in instructing and counseling the co-op student during the transition from school to the world of work.
• The hiring of co-op students promotes closer cooperation between the schools and the community
• The hiring of co-op students encourages graduates to remain in the Great Lakes Bay Region
• The hiring of co-op students promotes a more stable work force
• The co-op coordinator provides additional supervision assistance for your employee
• By using the co-op program, you will have a source of continuous, dependable part-time help
• Your new trainee will attract new customers from their friends and relatives
• Participating in the education of our local students will give you a feeling of civic pride

07/27/2026

Please reach out to Beth or Marc if you are interested in hiring a high school co-op student for the upcoming school year. Many outstanding candidates are still available!!

07/15/2026

Way to go, Audrey!! 👏

07/14/2026

Many of our 2026 grads are saying good-bye or stepping into new roles while our incoming Seniors begin their yearlong adventure with Work-Based Learning!

Thank you, Wildfire Credit Union, for your partnership!!

07/07/2026

We have the BEST employer partners!!

It is Team Tuesday!

Big congratulations to our Early Childhood Services team! ECS was named Student of the Year Employer through Bay City Public Schools' Work-Based Learning Program.

What started in 2023 with just a handful of students has grown into a thriving partnership! Today ECS supports 5–6 high school students who split their days between the classroom as Aides and their own studies. Even better? Many choose to come back for a second year.

Huge thanks to the people who made it happen: Area Managers Tera Keller and Heidi Klender, Education Specialist Andrea Hall, and Professional Development Coordinator Kim Henry, whose relationship-building keeps this partnership growing.

This is what investing in the next generation looks like.

06/16/2026

Max started as a high school co-op student!

Today we're celebrating Max's 6-year anniversary at Auburn Optical! 🎉 Over the years, Max has been a dedicated team member whose hard work, dependability, and commitment to our patients have made a lasting impact. Thank you for everything you do, Max—we're grateful to have you on our team and look forward to many more years together!

05/23/2026

Today we’re celebrating our co-op student, Alivia, as she wraps up her time with Renue Physical Therapy - Auburn!

We’re thankful to have had her as part of the team and wish her nothing but success in the future. Best of luck in your next chapter, Alivia, we’re excited to see what’s ahead for you! 👏

05/22/2026

The BCPS Work Based Learning Program held their awards luncheon this past Tuesday at the The Wanigan Eatery & Pub.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients!! We are so proud of ALL of our Work Based Learning students as well as our amazing employer partners.

Bay City Central Student of the Year Finalists
Brynn Corrion - Paramount Rehabilitation Services
Reagan Schacher - SC Johnson, A Family Company

Bay City Western Student of the Year Finalists
Julia Budzinski - Bay Eye Care Center
Riley Gilles - Nemcsa Head Start
Louis Musser - Great Lakes Pharmacy of Midland
Ben VanTol - Roquette

Bay City Central Student of the Year Award Recipients
Ian Anderson - Dow Bay Area Family YMCA
Lauren Klawon - Greater Midland Tennis Center

Bay City Western Student of the Year Award Recipients
Julia Smith - Frank's Great Outdoors
Josie Tallman - Nemcsa Head Start

Employer Partner Legacy Awards will be shared soon!

Thank you to our outstanding advisory board for your time and dedication on the selection committee.

05/20/2026

Congratulations to Audrey, Western High Work-Based Learning student!!

05/15/2026

It was a wonderful morning at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Eye Opener. Great information from Jenifer Acosta on housing in our region and so nice to see many of our WBL employer partners in the room!

05/07/2026

Operating Engineers 324 will be accepting applications for the OE324 Stationary Engineer and HVAC Technician Apprenticeship programs online beginning June 1, 2026!

Visit https://www.oe324.org/application/ for requirements and for more details!

Address

Bay City, MI
48708

Telephone

+19898910632

Website

http://www.bcschools.net/

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