Navigation
-
Content Actions
-
Lenses
This content is ...
In these lenses
-
Recently Viewed
- This feature requires Javascript to be enabled.
Building a Stronger Community for Special Needs Learners
Summary: The goal of this chapter is to plan, build, and maintain external school partnerships to foster the growth of special needs students. An emphasis will be placed on building and managing these relationships so they encourage social values and goals of the school, business and community.
Introduction
Most special needs learners have not acquired the basic skills that are essential for independent living. Establishing partnerships with businesses and community groups can cultivate these necessary learning experiences. It is the civic duty of all stakeholders to prepare our special needs students so they can be productive members of society. This development training must begin in elementary school and continue throughout the educational process.
A school/community partnership will facilitate several learning experiences. These learning experiences are mutually beneficial for all participating stakeholders. A study was completed by The Council for School Partnerships and National Association of Partners in Education in 2001. The research found that “70% of all school districts now engage in some form of school partnership, an increase of 35% since 1990” (pg. 5). When asked which outcome was the most valuable, 72% of the business partners and school administrators stated those programs that improved student motivation were the most valuable. Sixty percent stated that the partnership provided students direction for the future. (pgs. 3-6) Combined with proper planning and execution; the special education students can learn life skills necessary for their success. The business or community group involved in the partnership will acquire skills, knowledge, and most importantly tolerance towards students with special needs. By involving special needs learners in the business partnership, working adults may become more empathetic to those who have special needs.
The community as a whole needs to make an effort to incorporate individuals with special needs into the workplace. There are many duties that special needs learners can perform in a corporate office. The business partnership will cultivate an experience that provides the special needs student with valuable on the job training and provides the business with a useful work force they may not have been aware existed.
How Do You Build a Partnership?
School leaders expect teachers to develop a structural learning experience that is measurable and attainable. The educational plans must have targeted goals the students are required to meet. As a leader, you need to follow the same principles when preparing to organize a business partnership. Building a strong partnership requires a great deal of planning, great execution and constant follow up. The establishment of the partnership is what determines the longevity and elasticity of the relationship. The following is a prescribed lesson plan on the preparation and constant evaluation necessary to have a business partnership that works towards goals to improve student achievement.
Establishment
When you embark on searching for a partnership you need to ensure that the partner shares the common philosophies and values.
- While building a foundation for the partnership you need to make sure that the goals set are mutually beneficial for all stakeholders. When setting goals the partners need to address both short and long term goals, and the activities that will encourage growth.
- Both parties together must establish the goals and the needs for which the school as well as the business have to obtain. The partnership should support the schools mission and improvement plan.
- The business partner should reflect and respect the culture of the school.
Implementation
As a leader of the school, you need to develop avenues for which you can integrate this new partnership into the school.
- Communication is the key to a successful partnership. Good communication is not exclusive to the leader of the school and to the business partner, but also to the school’s staff, parents, and the surrounding community. All stakeholders should receive information about the partnership so the school receives support from everyone.
- One of the most important questions you will need to ask yourself is, “How are you going to use your business partner?” Is this a partnership that is only donating money or is this a partnership available to have direct interaction at the school, provide assistance in the community, or provide on the job training at the partner’s work location?
- Organization of the partnership is extremely important to its success. There should be one person in charge of the partnership at the school level. After assessing the school’s needs, the goals are established, and planning is implemented. Roles of each partner should be defined as well as each partners’ responsibilities. Training will also have to be considered as many of the volunteers from the business partner probably have not worked with school-age students.
Evaluation
Evaluation of the program is necessary to ensure the goals are being met and to adjust to the program as necessary. These improvements will continue through subsequent programs. Continuous evaluation will result in continued improvements of the program. Overall the partnership should positively impact student achievement.
- A way of measuring success was developed during the planning of the program so that continual evaluation could be made.
- Data should be gathered and analyzed by the stakeholders. Data should include both positives and improvement areas.
- Gathering data beyond the school and business would be beneficial. Sending surveys to parents and other stakeholders to get their opinion on how it affected them would be a way of expanding your data.
Conclusion
In order to produce a successful partnership it is important to have constant communication. Both educational leaders and the business leaders must be willing to work for a common goal, which is increased student achievement. Taking the time to establish a partnership with mutual goals, implementing a plan that incorporates the needs of the school, and evaluating the program by collecting data, analyzing data, and making necessary improvements to the program is the best way to support a partnership. It is the educational leader’s responsibility to make sure that the partnership is instituted with open communication and defined goals and objectives so they can evaluate the growth of the programs. The school leader is accountable for all established programs within the school building, so they need ensure that the program is a constructive partnership that encourages student growth.
Though students are the primary responsibility of teachers and parents, the community has a vested interest in the students’ success. These children will one day be living within the community. By involving them in a school/business partnership we provide them with life skills they can use once they have completed their years in public school and provide the community with self-sustaining individuals.
References
The Council for Corporate and School Partnerships. Guiding Principles for Business and School Partnerships. June 12, 2007. http://www.corpschoolpartners.org/guiding_principles.shtml
Comments, questions, feedback, criticisms?
Send feedback
- E-mail the author of the module, Building a Stronger Community for Special Needs Learners
Footer
More about this content: Metadata | Version History
This work is licensed by Kerry Alday under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 2.0).
Last edited by National Council of Professors of Educational Administration on Jul 9, 2007 2:39 pm GMT-5.
"Planning, building, and maintaining external school partnerships to foster the growth of special needs students"