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 – 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 partners logo and/or name on materials that they sponsor Money Raising Activities Policy No – 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 – 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 Principals 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 Principals Handbook has been moved to a conference on CAB that is password protected Ask your principal if you may read applicable sections of the Principals Handbook for more information on district guidelines and procedures

More on the Superintendents Screening 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 Superintendents Screening Committee - KCW 7th floor

More on the Superintendents Screening Committee Flyers Businesses may ask you to distribute promotional flyers. The Superintendents Screening Committee does not review material that is intended for adults (parents or teachers) At principals discretion, a flyer may be approved for front office placement that parents and/or teachers may pick up

More on the Superintendents Screening Committee Flyers Promotional and other flyers directed to students must be approved by the Superintendents 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 schools 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 schools 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 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, 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 Districts database of partnerships, – 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 Or by

Other Training Visit For other training programs Recruiting Partners Partnership Activities Utilization of Resources Retention and Recognition