Business/Education Partnership Forum Newsletter

January 2009 - v5n1

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Note from the editor
• Top articles, commentaries, and announcements from December 2009
• Upcoming events

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

It may be a new year, but I’m continuing to see the same headlines I was seeing at the end of 2009. Stories like “Class sizes increase due to budget shortfalls.” Or “State shortfalls delay payments to districts.” Or “Financial cuts eliminate programs for students.” And we all know there are more of these headlines to come this year, next year, and likely beyond.

It’s time to rethink the role of partnerships in K-12 education.

The Association of School Business Officers (ASBO International) was one of the first major education organizations to call for a fundamental rethinking of support for, and processes of, K-12 schooling through their December 2008 Economic Crisis Summit (see the report here as a PDF– it’s a good read). As we face continued and increasing budget woes, these calls will increase and intensify. And it’s a perfect opportunity for community stakeholders to get involved.

To date, many partnerships have been supplemental affairs: they enhance the existing course of study, or provide additional opportunities to students outside of the standard school structure. Those are, of course, welcome and significant contributions, and they’re making a difference in the lives of kids everywhere. But in the spirit of the ASBO report, and some of the partnership initiatives we highlighted in the K-12 Partnership Report in 2009, I would suggest a renewed discussion on the possible scope and size of community-based partnerships.

To that end, I’d like to share an article from the latest issue of the K-12 Partnership Report titled “Building the Partnership Pyramid” (here, as a PDF). By defining and highlighting the full range of partner engagement, I hope that we can all enter the new year with an eye towards new solutions instead of old problems. As always, I’d love your feedback.

And speaking of the K-12 Partnership Report – if you haven’t subscribed yet, please consider doing so: it’s the only current source of case studies, best practices, and other information on partnership development, and an invaluable resource for people who strive to build strong and effective partnerships. It shows you what works, saving you the time and resources you would otherwise spend figuring it out by yourself. And it’s now just $99 for an entire year’s subscription. Go here to sign up online.

Happy new year to you all – let’s work together to make it a good one.

Best,

Brett

TOP ARTICLES, COMMENTARIES, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM DECEMBER 2009

Selected to highlight business thinking on education or innovative approaches to engagement

• Nurtured neighborhood blossoms - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (December 2, 2009)
• Chevron and Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership Receive 2009 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center Partnership Award - Discovery Communications press release (December 2, 2009)
• Motives of 21st-Century-Skills Group Questioned - Education Week (December 4, 2009)
• Troops finding new service as teachers - New York Times (December 5, 2009)
• Teenagers find success, future in robotics competitions - FultonCounty.com (December 7, 2009)
• TN schools and science nonprofit team up to improve education - The Tennessean (December 12, 2009)
• An appeal for tutors to help Detroit's would-be readers - Detroit Free Press (December 13, 2009)
• FSC Students Help St. Joseph's Teachers Get 'Smart' - The Ledger (December 13, 2009)
• Lettin' loose with Legos - Durango Herald (December 13, 2009)
• Video game teaches NY students fiscal skills - AP (December 14, 2009)
• Carnegie Corporation Awards $1 Million Grant to ACT for Initiative To Improve College and Career Readiness - ACT press release (December 17, 2009)
• Breaking up is hard to do - Columbia Daily Tribune (December 19, 2009)
• Classroom helpers - Sun Chronicle (December 22, 2009)
• School district moves towards new, '21st century' teaching tools - American Canyon Eagle (December 22, 2009)
• With DNA Testing, Students Learn What’s What in Their Neighborhood - New York Times (December 26, 2009)
• From a seed, a STEM grows - Akron Beacon Journal (December 27, 2009)
• Take two: Second-career teachers bring life experience to class - Journal Times (December 28, 2009)
• 'It all comes back to education' - Napa Valley Register (December 28, 2009)
• Upgrade Careers in After-School Field, Report Says - Education Week (December 29, 2009)
• They're ready to help kids read - Detroit Free Press (December 31, 2009)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• TAPE Annual Conference, Texas Association of Partners in Education; January 24-26, Austin TX
• NSFA Annual Conference, National School Foundation Association; April 7-9, Chicago IL
• 10 th Annual International Education and Business Partnership Conference, Conference Board of Canada; April 25-28, Toronto, Canada

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