Hayfield's Education for Employment and Cooperative Education Internship program most closely coincides with the human services career cluster. People in human services fall into 5 main career pathways or sectors including early childhood development and services, counseling and mental health services, family and community services, personal care services, and consumer services. Employer sites and business partnerships of current EFE co-op students include restaurants (from fast food to casual dining) retail sales, grocery stores, movie theatres, day care services, senior citizen care, salons, and day spas, and automotive repair business. Our nation is currently making a long term shift from a goods-producing society to a service-providing one. Research from the Mid-Atlantic Guide to Information on Careers (MAGIC) magazine published by the Virginia Employment Commission, shows the employment outlook to expand in service-providing professions; however the job growth varies based on the specific occupation. In the restaurant industry, food preparation and service related jobs are expected to increase in demand for workers. Likewise the sales and related occupations are expected to add 1.5 million new jobs by 2014 which is a growth factor of 9.6%. The majority of these jobs will be at the entry level positions of retail sales associates and cashiers. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported "steady annual job growth is projected through 2016 in the service producing sectors of education, health care, hospitality, business, government, wholesale and retail, social assistance, and information technology." This future employment outlook is awesome news for those nearing high school graduation and preparing for post-secondary plans!

It is difficult to determine specific employment outlook unless a particular occupational title is analyzed; however generalizations regarding tomorrow's work force can be made. Education for Employment students realize that individuals change careers multiple times during a lifetime; hence employees will need to be flexible to transitions throughout their working careers. With technology constantly changing, students are aware of the need to be adaptive to new technological advancements, ready to update their skills, and be life time learners. This "wired generation" of today's students and tomorrow's workers is growing up in this mindset simply by the magnitude of technology they have experienced in their lives thus far. Likewise adaptability applies to geographic employment locations, as tomorrow's workers will be more transient in their lifestyles. Re-locating for better job opportunities and advancement will be a must rather than an employee's choice. Developing the character traits of flexibility and adaptability will provide a smoother life and work transition.

Training requirements and minimum educational levels within the human services career cluster vary just as the employment outlook does based on specific occupational titles. Some careers will require a high school diploma and VA State Board licensure such as a cosmetologist. Other occupations may prefer apprenticeships, technical training,and varying advanced college degrees. Statistics from the BLS say "that 98% of the highest paying jobs will require an associates degree or higher." Even though school may be a struggle for the majority of the Education for Employment students, they are aware that post-secondary training or education is essential to compete for jobs and advance in today's global society. Hayfield's Education for Employment student is equipped with a wealth of invaluable career planning resources including CTE classes, a College and Career Center, school counselors, teachers, the internet, and career focused magazines such as Magic, Career World, Movin On, and American Careers. They have explored and analyzed the 16 career clusters and many have experienced various work experiences through cooperative education internship. Each student now holds the decision-making power to match their strengths, aptitudes, interests, personality, and passions to a fulfilling career(s) in the journey of life.

Attached are a variety of testimonials from parents, businesses, and former students.

Attached is the FCPS Cooperative Education Internships training agreement.

Each month the Education for Education instructor does a job site visit for each cooperative education student even though the state requirement is one job site visit quarterly.  It is documented in the student's classroom work folder and at the end of each school year, it becomes a part of the EFE student's permanent record with guidance.  The employer is also responsible for assessing employee performance in the workplace monthly and at the end of each quarter.  Attached are required monthly cooperative education internship evaluations and quarterly assessments.