CommunityPartnerships
Promote and enhance partnerships among schools, parents, businesses, and communities, linking community resources with school programs and curriculum.
Definition:
Providing educational opportunities and ensuring that all students achieve academic success requires collaboration among students, parents, school personnel, and the community at large, including government and business leaders. Financial resources are limited. Sharing of learning resources, including equipment and work-based learning sites and community resources, is essential to extending learning options and environments to students.
The importance of collaboration goes beyond the need for learning sites and resources. Helping students see the need for education takes a community approach. Schools must be “of the community” – both a resource for community events and a beneficiary of community resources that provide students with opportunities to learn. The leadership of business representatives is especially important to help ensure that learning is relevant and will adequately prepare students for post-high school plans.
Below: Westfield Biodiesel video
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National High School Center (NHSC) Characteristics:
- incorporate formal and informal guidance programs, including peer and professional counseling and mentoring;
- include attendance and behavior monitoring and support systems, such as Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS);
- support wrap-around and English-language services that extend beyond the classroom;
- foster a positive school climate, including safe schools and respectful environments (e.g., anti-bullying);
- cultivate student voice and leadership in the classroom, school, co-curricular activities, and community;
- promote health and physical education and co-curricular activities;
- support students as they transition into and out of high school;
- provide family-focused services and outreach that engage parents and family members in programs and services;
- respect and honor the strengths and resources of the student’s family and community;
- engage the interests, needs, skills, and resources of its multiple stakeholders, such as school staffs, students, parents and family members, guardians, community organizations and members, and business partners;
- foster relationships among high schools, middle-level and elementary schools, and postsecondary education institutions (e.g., dual enrollment agreements), the workforce, families, and communities;
- ensure that all appropriate stakeholders are at the table during critical planning and decision-making activities;
- incorporate multiple communications strategies that are culturally and linguistically appropriate and support two-way communications;
- acknowledge and draw on the strengths of the various stakeholder groups;
- are designed with contingencies of stakeholders in mind;
- incorporate technologies to more creatively and effectively support stakeholder engagement.
National High School Center. Eight Elements of High School Improvement. July 2008.
Effective practices:
Establish schools as community centers relevant to family, community, and business needs.
Use collaborative partnerships among schools, businesses, and community based organizations
Involve business members in classroom activities and students and teachers in workplace sites.
Promote credit-based work experiences, school-business partnerships, and school-to-work opportunities
Wisconsin Models of Best Practice:
| The Wausau School District is well on its way to implementing the full sequence of Project Lead The Way courses. Learn what transpired to reach this point, how to successfully access funding for the program, organize and properly utilize an engineering advisory committee, integrate rigor and relevancy into your technology education program, and the importance of developing partnerships with the core subject areas of math and science. | Wausau School District www.wausau.k12.wi.us |
| Menomonee Falls High school was chosen as a 2004 Model School by the International Center for Leadership in Education. This high school uses the information learned from being part of the Successful Practice Network to improve relationships among staff and students as well as increase the rigor and relevance of our comprehensive curriculum. An award winning staff development program (Saturn-NEA) is a key ingredient. | Menomonee Falls High school www.sdmf.k12.wi.us |
| Tesla is like any other charter school out there. Students are enrolling and we're making changes in their lives. Parents are actively participating in their children's education. Everything is going well but for some schools something seems to be missing. What about the community? How do they fit into this puzzle? Learn what Tesla Engineering Charter School has done to tap into the vast resources in the community and how they have connected their students with professionals from throughout the Fox Valley and beyond. |
Tesla Charter School – Appleton Area School District www.aasd.k12.wi.us/Tesla |
| AZCO Integrated Construction and Menasha High School have developed a true learning partnership that values learning while forming a relationship with the students and members of AZCO Integrated Construction. Menasha High School’s welding program has increased in enrollment by 100% along with offering three levels of welding. | Menasha High School www.mjsd.k12.wi.us |
| CESA #7 has developed and implemented a service to their member school districts by offering them an opportunity to participate in a High School Redesign Network. Four areas of focus were developed by the participants after learning about high school reform. The strands include Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; 9th and 12th Grade Transitions; Relationships and Connections with Students, and Leadership. This model is one that can benefit all school districts in our state. Information will be provided about developing a partnership with your CESA, or establishing your own network. | Green Bay Area Public School District www.greenbay.k12.wi.us |
| The Oneida Nation funds an educational program to support Oneida students enrolled in public school districts. Come to this session to hear details of this project: academic support to students, cultural support to teachers and parents, and innovative and creative solutions to individual situations. And, begin to think about how to creatively connect with an Indian nation near you to meet students' and parents' academic and social needs. | Oneida Nation www.oneidanation.org |
A small high school opened in Milwaukee Public Schools in the spring of 2008 with a focus on students returning to school after expulsion or a period of incarceration. Transition High School combines online learning, experiential learning, and community based services in an innovation setting. |
Marty Lexmond |
Resources:
The National High School Center serves as the central source of information and expertise on high school improvement for the Regional Comprehensive Centers (RCCs). The web site includes extensive reports, issue papers, and links to useful resources.
www.betterhighschools.org
National High School Alliance framed the work of the Task Force. This is a major partnership effort around high school reform to provide resources, opportunities to discuss best practices and inform policy around each of 5 targeted areas for action.
hsalliance.org
