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Business Partners In Education. The Basics for New Partnership Liaisons. Definition of a Partnership. A partnership is mutually supportive arrangement between a school and a business government agency community organization
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Business Partners In Education The Basics for New Partnership Liaisons
Definition of a Partnership A partnership is mutually supportive arrangement between • a school and • a business • government agency • community organization The parties in a partnership commit to a plan of specific activities intended to • benefit students • improve student achievement • help accomplish school improvement goals
Who do Partners work with? In providing activities that support students, Partners can work with • Individual teachers to assist with classroom objectives • Administrators and other staff to provide services that cross multiple classrooms or grade levels • Parents to help with fund-raising and other activities that benefit the school • School Advisory Council to provide community in put to the SIP process
Who Can be a Partner? Any business, government entity, service club, community group, or not-for-profit organization can be a “business” partner
Do new partners need District approval? Businesses and other organizations and agencies do not need prior district approval to be your partner • Who you sign up as a partner is a school decision • What partners do is limited by state and federal law, school board and school policy • Use common sense when developing partnerships
What policies affect PIEs? • Advertising Policy No. 6300 • Partnerships are not intended to promote businesses or products. Awareness of the business and its products are a by-product of a good partnership relationship. You may, however, use your partner’s logo and/or name on materials that they sponsor • Money Raising Activities Policy No. 6206 • Fund-raising activities by students need principal approval. Panhandling is not allowed. Only one door-to-door solicitation per high school per student club or organization per year is allowed without prior Superintendent approval. Adults may fund-raise to other adults • Use of BCPS Facilities for Non-School Purposes Policy No. 1341 • Having a partnership does not entitle a business to use the school facility during hours when school is not in session without meeting the terms of the facilities agreement as stated in Policy 1341
Other Policies • Several district guidelines or procedures govern partnership activities and may be found in the Principal’s Handbook
Other Policies The Guidelines and Procedures most applicable to partnerships are: • Community and Business Volunteers: Procedures for Involvement and Management of Risk and Liability • Field Trip Guidelines • Guidelines on photography of students • Screening Committee Guidelines for use of curriculum enrichment material • Speakers Guidelines – including speakers on subjects such as HIV/Aids, the Holocaust, and, Animals in the Classroom
Where can I find Policies • The Principal’s Handbook has been moved to a conference on CAB that is password protected • Ask your principal if you may read applicable sections of the Principal’s Handbook for more information on district guidelines and procedures
More on the Superintendent’sScreening Committee Screening Curriculum • Should a business approach you with a pre-developed curriculum, such as a grocery story with a nutritional program, the curriculum must be reviewed by the appropriate district staff. You may send these to the Superintendent’s Screening Committee - KCW 7th floor
More on the Superintendent’sScreening Committee Flyers • Businesses may ask you to distribute promotional flyers. The Superintendent’s Screening Committee does not review material that is intended for adults (parents or teachers) • At principal’s discretion, a flyer may be approved for front office placement that parents and/or teachers may pick up
More on the Superintendent’sScreening Committee Flyers • Promotional and other flyers directed to students must be approved by the Superintendent’s Screening Committee • Without a clear academic purpose, information directed to students will not be approved • Material with an academic purpose will be reviewed by the appropriate curriculum staff
Rules and Regulations • All partners who volunteer at the school must complete the Volunteer Application available through the school’s Volunteer Coordinator • All volunteers, including those attending planning meetings, must sign-in at the front desk each time they visit school • There is always teacher supervision in a classroom • Volunteers give no medication • Partners agree to the right of student confidentiality • The school maintains the Partnership Plan, an intranet form, available only through the school’s networked computers
One-on-One Volunteers • Additional clearances are required for volunteers who work one-on-one in mentor and tutor capacities. New electronic finger printing policies are in place effective September 2004 • Check with the Youth Mentor Coordinator at your school for the newest guidelines
Five Star School Award Requirements • Annual, signed Partnership Plan • Proof of ongoing relationship • School Advisory Committee participation. Appoint only someone whom you know is going to participate. Lack of attendance can eliminate a school from receiving the Five Star • Contact with students and donation of goods and services or financial resources • Designated PIE Liaisons - school and partner • Yearly participation in training by school and partner liaison • Yearly orientation and training for school staff and volunteers. Can be coordinated with your Volunteer Coordinator • Recognition of partnership
Accessing the Partnership Plan • Partners In Education will email the Partnership Plan link to the designated School PIE Liaison at the beginning of each school year • Leave the link on your desktop for easy access. Only a computer linked to BCPS’ intranet can access the Partnership Plan • FileMaker Pro 6.0 is required. The District maintains a site license and the latest version may be obtained by logging on to the TSSC server • If you loose your link, email Nina Randall on CAB for another
Charter Schools and the Partnership Plan • Charter schools may request hard copy of the Partnership Plan for use at their schools. • To be part of the District’s database of partnerships, • Email a PDF version of the completed Partnership Plan to Partners In Education. • A hard copy can be mailed to Partners In Education for data entry
Timeline for the Partnership Plan • August and September • Update addresses of continuing partnerships • Complete section on activities planned • Print and sign ONLY if you are applying for Five Star School Award • Maintain the signed copies for the Five Star Book • Throughout the year • New partners may be brought on at any time • Partnership Plans for new partnerships are due within 30 days of establishing a new relationship
Timeline for the Partnership Plan Year End Report is due by the last day of school • Report quantities and outcomes • How many people volunteered? • How many hours? • How much time was donated? • How much in-kind and cash? • What did it accomplish (outcome)?
Evaluation • Evaluation needs to be an on-going activity • Each partner should share concerns and problems with suggested recommendations for improvement
Evaluation Checklist • Did the activity take place as planned? If not, why not? • Did activities meet the expressed goals and objectives? If not, why not? • Did students (or teachers or administrators) achieve the desired instructional outcomes? What were the outcomes? Is there a measure of the success? • Is the activity worth repeating? What improvements can be made?
Evaluating Activities • Is the activity designed to improve student achievement? • Is the activity designed to enhance staff development? • Did the people (volunteers) involved in the activity feel fulfilled by the experience? • Did the teachers involved feel that the activity was a good use of their time?
Evaluating the Partnership • What was the purpose of the partnership? Did the partnership meet its stated goals? • What positive changes occurred as a result of the partnership? • Is the commitment for the partnership growing? If not, why not? What can be done to build commitment to the partnerships? • Does the partnership have a plan for continuous improvement? • Is the volunteer base increasing or decreasing? • Are communication links strong?
Evaluation Questions • Does staff at the school and at the partner place of business know about the partnership? Do they participate? • Do school and partner liaisons feel good about being part of the program? Do they get support and recognition from their peers for their efforts? • Have programs and activities been repeated successfully?
Evaluation Questions • Is the partnership solely dependent on one person in either or both organizations? Would it survive if that person were gone? • Does the partnership give the organization satisfaction? • Is data on the level of corporate support maintained and reported? Does the partner receive adequate recognition for its support to the school?
Basic Training for New Liaisons • Have fun • Get others to help you • Recruit parents, staff or teachers to assist • Think of partnerships as a win/win opportunity for all
For further information Nina Randall Partners In Education 754-321-1974 Or by email Nrandall@browardschools.com
Other Training Visit www.browardpartners.com For other training programs • Recruiting Partners • Partnership Activities • Utilization of Resources • Retention and Recognition