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The Education Alliance has a three-tiered Partnerships in Education
program to encourage and recognize stronger school-business partnerships.
The purpose of this new program is to encourage partnerships to work in
collaboration with school personnel, parents and the community on
activities that truly focus on improving academics. There are three levels
of partnerships – Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced – with a
certificate for each level.
Beginning Partnership
Schools and businesses develop a basic understanding of each other’s
resources and needs through contact at infrequent meetings and one or two
partnership meetings each year. Students have some contact with business
representatives, but this contact is typically limited to classroom or
assembly presentations with few hands-on activities. Schools may give back
to the business partner, but it is normally limited to plaques,
certificates, thank
you cards, student artwork, etc.
Intermediate Partnership
Schools and businesses develop a more comprehensive understanding of each
other’s resources and needs through involvement on committees,
regularly-scheduled partnership meetings and frequent communication that
allow both business and school employees to appreciate and understand one
another. Business representatives have frequent contact with students, and
this contact includes helping with or coordinating hands-on activities,
or providing visits to the business for shadowing days and other
career-related activities. Schools are generous when giving back to the
business, including having students perform at company functions, allowing
the business to use school facilities, etc. An Intermediate Partnership
features honest and open communication that is built on mutual trust and
respect.
Advanced Partnership
Representatives from the school and the business work together to focus on
the academic needs of the school. A well-defined plan is developed after
examining school data and working cooperatively with teachers and
students. Business representatives have regular contact with students
through tutoring/mentoring sessions and activities that provide students
with “real world” experiences while working in collaboration with
employees on innovative projects. Projects undertaken by the business partner are
innovative and/or long-term, such as working with students to construct an
electric car, developing or enhancing school curriculum, sponsoring summer
enrichment programs, developing a scholarship program, etc. Schools are
generous and innovative when giving back to the business. An Advanced
Partnership features honest and open communication as part of a true team
approach designed to enhance and improve the school. All of the attributes
of an Intermediate Partnership are prevalent in an Advanced Partnership,
however, an academic plan of action helps to shape partnership activities
in an Advanced Partnership.
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