School-business Partnerships, why Not?: Laying the Foundation for Successful ProgramsSchool-business partnerships can be a valuable supplement to the public education system, especially in an era of limited resources. The business and industrial community can provide support for schools in a number of ways, including awards to students and teachers, scholarships, equipment loans, on-the-job training, curriculum revision, part-time employment, and direct participation in instruction. To establish such a partnership, principals and business people should take the following steps: (1) clarify their own and each other's expectations; (2) identify firms with desired expertise; (3) hold a well-planned meeting or luncheon for firm representatives, faculty, parents, and students; (4) establish a time-line with desired outcomes and specific activities; (5) appoint a project coordinator; and (6) agree on a method of evaluation. Examples are provided of six successful partnership programs, along with suggestions for additional resources (such as senior citizens and small business people). The program should optimally provide learning opportunities for all students, both college-bound and non-college-bound. (TE) |
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academic adopt-a-school program adopted advertising agency areas belief that business BUILDING THE PARTNERSHIP business and industry business community business partner business person business personnel business representatives California career composed curriculum revision determine distributive education Education Program efforts employees evaluated EXPECTATIONS OF BUSINESSES EXPECTATIONS OF SCHOOLS experience for students experience programs Exploring firms function funds goals and objectives groups help teachers high school students increasing number Indianapolis individual volunteers instructional program International Business Machines involve business INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT large number learning experiences Los Angeles major bank McDonald Corporation Memphis National operate in Philadelphia participate Pennsylvania PROGRAMS IN OPERATION promote understanding provides work experience public relations public schools Reinvent the Wheel response Reston scheduled school administrators school districts school should present school staff members schools and businesses Secondary School Principals sense of ownership STAFF INVOLVEMENT STEPS TO BUILDING strong school-business partnerships students and staff Successful Programs Virginia vocational work-study