New Report: School-Business Partnerships: Seven Strategies for Success

Posted by on December 15, 2006

[posted from Public Education Network newblast]

SCHOOL-BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS: SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

School-business partnerships have been flourishing for more than 30 years. Since the 1970s, partnership programs have evolved from one-sided ?Adopt-a-School? efforts to mutually beneficial partnerships that provide advantages to both schools and businesses. Partnerships offer business leaders and their employees an opportunity to contribute to their community as well as an inside look at today?s schools, which in turn increases their knowledge, understanding and advocacy for public education. Schools and students benefit from additional human and financial resources. A partnership between a school and a business can prove beneficial to both partners if the right components are in place. The Daniels Fund has researched why some school partnerships are more effective than others. This report highlights seven strategies for successful partnerships based on the findings: (1) Ensure student learning and achievement are the focus of every partnership; (2) Develop a well-defined and well-managed program that supports school-based partnerships; (3) Make strategic matches between schools and businesses that advance a school?s improvement goals; (4) Set clear expectations for schools and businesses; (5) Provide training for school staff and business employees; (6) Create a meaningful process for communicating about the program and recognizing the contributions of business partners; and (7) Regularly monitor and evaluate each partnership and the overall program.

http://www.danielsfund.org/sevenstrategies/Strategies/