Steps to a Successful Partnership

Planning is an essential component after a school and business have made a commitment to establish a partnership. The process of implementing a partnership is unique for each set of partners; however, the steps listed below can serve as a guideline to suit your specific needs.

1. Awareness/Form a Steering Committee

Inform key populations about the partnership; use meetings, interviews, brochures, videos, newsletters, etc.
Identify members for your steering committee.
Include: business coordinator, school coordinator, school principal or assistant principal, business employees, teachers, PTA representative, and student body representative (if appropriate).
Meet monthly to plan the details of the partnership.
Conduct an orientation at each other's facilities, to include: introductions, information about the partnership, a brief history and description of each partner, and tours of the facilities.
Ensure that business partners are viewed as an integral part of the school and included in the program planning.
Prepare a summary of each meeting.
Plan a kick-off ceremony where both parties sign a partnership agreement.

2. Needs Assessment

Define areas of need for school and business.
Where do they overlap?
Gather information: interpreting existing data, observation, questionnaires, interviews, and surveys.
Set priorities.

3. Potential Resources

Identify people, materials, equipment, and money needed based on needs assessment.
Planning is important prior to implementation.
Business resources: research annual reports, other partnerships in a company, grant offerings.
School and community resources: student volunteers, community service, peer tutoring, facilities, staff development programs, printing, ESL, etc.
Local government: police departments, fire departments, correctional facilities, post offices, and mayor's offices.

4. Goals and Objectives

Establish the focus of the partnership: - review the school's needs to determine how the business partner can help the school achieve its goals.
- develop goals or a mission statement.
- develop measurable objectives.
- develop partnership work plans as part of the school plan.
- specify clearly what the partnership will accomplish.
- state specifically who will do what by when.
- include no more than 3 or 4 activities when you begin the partnership.
Draft a partnership agreement.

5. Program Design

Determine what is likely to be effective in your environment.
Options: instructional support and enrichment, staff development, advocacy, policy development, curriculum development, material and financial resources, utilization of business facilities, compacts, counseling and guidance.
Start small and build on success.

6. Partnership Management

Policy commitment should be in writing.
Partnership goals must reinforce district or school goals.
Develop role descriptions for school and business coordinators, principal, teachers, and corporate volunteers.
Set administrative and monitoring procedures.
Develop partnership budgets.

7. Recruitment

Strategy: involve influential school and business representatives in initial activities.
Look for people with the skills to match partnership needs and approach them individually.
Make each option time specific.
Be honest and define responsibilities.
If recruitment is a problem, reassess the program to identify weaknesses.
The best recruiter is an enthusiastic volunteer already working in the program.
Allow for mobility. Once volunteers gain confidence, they will be willing to help in other ways.
Recruiter should be knowledgeable.
One-on-one best strategy.

8. Assignment

Conduct interviews with interested volunteers.
Screen volunteers: can the individual provide the services needed and does he/she have a receptive attitude?
Place volunteers immediately.
Follow-up to be sure things are going smoothly.

9. Orientation

For executives of business and school: philosophy, history, goals, planned activities, their roles.
For those involved on a day-to-day basis: above plus what they will be doing and why, with whom they will be working, format, timelines, responsibilities, materials available, administrative guidelines, school schedule, confidentiality, discipline procedures, etc.
School and business people should participate together.
Provide written material.

10. Training

For teachers: how to use volunteers.
For business people: how to carry out specific partnership responsibilities at the school.
Include business volunteers and educators involved in the partnership.
Assure that training is practical and specific, minimize lecturing, use varied techniques, and train in small groups.
Conduct pre-service and in-service training.

11. Retention and Recognition

Retention strategies for business: keep partners involved each year, provide annual summary, publicity, enter in competitions, satisfying experience.
Retention strategies for schools: proof of positive impact on student learning, equal voice with business partner, recognition from peers.
Recognition for institutions: awards, media coverage, letters of appreciation.
Recognition for corporate volunteers: thank you letters, volunteer newsletter, certificates, plaques, complimentary tickets, media stories, letters of commendation to supervisor.

12. Evaluation

Each partnership should review program goals and objectives at the end of the school year.
Determine strengths and weaknesses of the partnership.
Evaluate how well the partnership is accomplishing the goals it set out to accomplish, and how well it is benefiting the participants it set out to serve.
Evaluation reports should contain recommendations for program planning and modifications to be considered in the partnership.
A written summary should be shared with the business partner.