A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

A Base for Vigorous Business-Education Partnerships

A new American consensus on education has developed around what is needed to prepare our young people for the future. Widely accepted and applied by national policy makers and practitioners, the following checkpoints of student progress stem from research that identifies certain points of student growth as critical transition periods.

These benchmarks lend themselves to vigorous business-education partnerships.

• Students should be able to read well and independently by the end of third grade.

• Students should study algebra by the end of eighth grade and continue to take advanced math and science throughout high school.

• Students should see college as an option and be prepared for some training or education past high school.

These benchmarks can be leveraged by three key areas:

• Students should have a safe haven to go to after school where enrichment and learning takes place.

• Classrooms should be connected to the Internet and all teachers should be well-trained in using technology.

• Parents should be involved in their children's education in school, at home, and in the community.

Researchers have discovered that businesses typically go through phases as they become involved in partnerships. Companies often move from a narrow and somewhat connected involvement to a more integrated, systemic partnership. The diagram above illustrates the partnership cycle that business-education partnerships tend to go through, highlighting activities that further these agreed-upon education benchmarks.

Many businesses around the country are involved in more integrated, systemic education partnerships, represented at the end of the partnership continuum. These types of partnerships work to meet the goals of the business involved, as well as integrate the missions of the education system. The following examples describe how various businesses have teamed up to focus their efforts more effectively on improving education.

"No issue is more fundamental to America's future and our quality of life than education. Businesses must play a vital role in helping our students to develop the skills they will need to succeed in the 21st century."

--Arthur F. Ryan, Chairman and CEO, Prudential

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This page was last updated January 3, 2002 (jca)