Common Sense Approaches to School Partnerships

Wana L. Duhart - May 29, 2009
Columnist EducationNews.org

The sharing and exchange of ideas and resources between public school systems and organizations representing many sectors is playing a major role in the overall transformation of K-12 schools. Private corporations are moving beyond the traditional school alliances which focused primarily on supplying adult mentors for students or donations of in-kind contributions. Recent business-to-school initiatives are increasingly more practical and hands-on for students and teachers alike. Nonprofits are funding education programs that respond to system lapses such as teacher recruitment and incentive compensation. Communities of faith are working with neighborhood schools to engage parents more in their children’s education and provide extracurricular activities for targeted age groups. The participation of so many sectors, industries, and professions in the transformation of schools locally and nationwide underscores how important it is to foster dialogue and exchange among everyday people and diverse organizations. School partnerships that transcend professional and sectoral boundaries are proving to be sensible solutions for school districts that lack the resources, leadership, and infrastructure needed to elevate the academic standards in their schools.

Private sector firms are developing software programs and simulating real world situations for students and teachers through the use of proprietary technology and organizational systems. Some schools are allowing classroom time to be held at corporate offices in order to give students opportunities for real-time interaction with workers and greater exposure to the tools these practitioners use daily. These kinds of business-to-school partnerships help students apply learned knowledge to real and contextual problems that are rarely found in textbooks. There are even examples of firms that invite school teachers to their offices to work alongside their professionals on projects that can be translated into lesson plans. These exchanges certainly make sense as we desperately search for ways to make classroom learning more relevant and practical. Real world simulations are promising learning formats for students who have not been able to excel via conventional means. Businesses that are able to relate and translate academic theories and knowledge to everyday realities can be important partners for schools that serve students who learn in different ways.

Foundations have become indispensable funding partners as so many cash strapped school districts move to close budget gaps that seem to be expanding more each year. Without the millions being dedicated to teacher development and compensation initiatives by foundations, certain schools would not be in any position to attract strong teachers by offering meaningful professional development and competitive salaries. What’s also intriguing about recent school-to-nonprofit alliances is the willingness of nonprofit leaders to invest their resources in areas of public education that have been ignored for years by the education establishment. The implementation of teacher bonus structures and recruitment of teachers from broader pools of professionals are examples of innovative and nontraditional approaches being applied by nonprofits. Faith communities are also thinking outside of the box and trying to fill voids in school operating budgets by hosting out-of-school events that address life issues for students and parents. Religious organizations will be extremely vital partners as schools and communities tackle the range of non-academic challenges and distractions facing youth.