Archived: Investing in Partnerships for Student Success

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

Investing in Partnerships for Student Success

Snapshots of Business/Education Efforts
Illustrate that Using This Tool Can Guide
Educational Partnership Development and Management

Snapshot #4

SCHOOL-TO-CAREERS OF LINCOLN is cooperatively sponsored by the Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln Education Association, the Lincoln business community, and the City of Lincoln, Nebraska. Through Ventures in Partnerships, more than 800 businesses and community organizations work with 31,000 public school students to show the linkages between classroom lessons and the workplace. School-to-Careers (STC) is one of the Ventures in Partnerships initiatives that is helping to link the Lincoln community and its public schools. Currently the STC initiative is in its fourth year. Over these years, $1.3 million has been invested in helping students link their school work to the world of work.

The goal of STC is to build a system of experiences that add relevance to learning, thereby enabling students to identify the future career that best fits their aptitude and interests—with a direct link to future training or postsecondary learning. The key strategies addressed by School-to-Careers focus on the infusion of STC concepts into the curriculum for all students in kindergarten through 12^th grade; the further development of school-community teams who develop action plans through the STC Institute; the support of school-based, work-based, and connecting activities that serve as models for other partnerships; professional development of partners through conferences, workshops, summer internships, college coursework, and shadowing; further access to career information, applications, and exploration for all students; development of a Web site that identifies community sites (with accompanying contact information) that volunteer to participate in work-based, school-based, and connecting activities; and support of employability curriculum implementation.

School-To-Careers of Lincoln

Step 1: Recruit and Organize Education, Business, Family, and Community Stakeholders

Identify/Recruit Stakeholders (examples)	Recruitment Strategies	Group/Individual (examples)	Contact Information (name, title, affiliation)	Contact Address (phone, fax, E-mail)	Committed Member of Steering Committee
Education
District- level administration and key curriculum partners for success	-- Letters from the Mayor and Superintendent of Schools. Meeting with the Superintendent -- Directors assigned to serve as a team	Directors of Staff Development, Curriculum, Ventures in Partnerships, Student Services, Federal Programs, Special Education, and Evaluation, LPS Curriculum Consultants for Applied Learning, Out-of-School Youth, Counseling and Career Education; teachers and district/school administrators; and president of the PEA			All persons are members of the committee
Family
	Recruit through: Parent Teacher Association, City Council of PTA and Parent Teacher Organization	PTA Area Council president Identified principals at elementary, middle, and high schools	PTA council president and identified parents through principals and volunteers in schools liaisons		3 parent reps Over ? of the business people and community representatives are also parents of students in the schools
Business
	Target key companies within business organizations. Have liaisons work with key business organizations	-- Home Builders Association of Lincoln -- Lincoln Independent Business Association -- Nebraska Restaurant Association -- Chamber of Commerce -- Unions -- Lincoln Bar Association	- President & executive director -- Executive director and youth committee pres. -- Liaison -- NE Sign Co. -- Reps -- President		Yes
Community
	Send out letters to all civic organizations, business associations, neighborhood; use web site, newsletter to invite participation	Sertoma Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Mayor?s Roundtable of Neighborhood Associations, Asian Center, Malone Ctr., Hispanic Community Center, Women's Commission	List from Mayor?s office		Yes
Postsecondary Education and Training
Local post-secondary schools	Letters of invitation from Mayor of Lincoln and follow-up phone calls	-- Southeast Community College -- Lincoln School of Commerce -- University of NE-Lincoln	-- Chancellor -- Tech-Prep Coordinator -- President, director of career counseling, director of PR and communications		Yes ? all partners are on the steering committee
Other
Government	City of Lincoln	City of Lincoln, Mayor of the City, and Director of Urban Development	Mayor of Lincoln Director of Urban Development and Private Industry Council Rep., the Gallup Orgs.		No ? Mayor Yes ? all others

Step 2: Create a Vision for the Partnership

Potential Priority Areas	Priority for Partners Rank 1-5 (high)					Goals	Order of Priorities (based on rankings)	Customer(s)
Potential Priority Areas	Educators	Family	Business	Community	Other	Goals	Order of Priorities (based on rankings)	Customer(s)
Academic Areas
Reading, Math and Language Arts	5	5	5	5	5	-- Improve basic skills and establish proficiency exams to meet state standards -- Implement computer-aided instruction program	5	Students Community Parents Employers
K-12 curriculum review	5	5	5	5	5	Infuse School-to-Careers concepts into the K-12 curriculum	5
Developing articulation agreements	5	5	5	5	5	Work with post-secondary institutions to develop articulation agreements and dual credit opportunities	5
Build School-Community Teams	5	5	5	5	5	Develop school-community teams to develop action plans to integrate STC concepts into school improvement plans	5
Partnership Vision/Statement of Purpose: The mission of the Ventures in Partnerships programs, including School-to-Careers, is to work together to enhance education and build a stronger community. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills to make a successful transition from school to additional learning for life and career-oriented work.

Step 3: Taking Stock Based on Partnership Vision

Priority Areas (examples)	Alignment of Stakeholders? Goals Re. Education	Where Are You Now? (assessment)	Current Approaches Used to Achieve Goals	Level(s) of Success
Academic Areas
Reading, Math and Language Arts	Top priority	Reading and math scores have been dropping for the last 10 years in elementary school	Proficiency exams have been developed in math.	Achievement test scores in spring of 1998 show significant improvements in all areas
K-12 Curriculum Review	Top priority	School-based, work-based and connecting activities are widespread but sporadic in nature	Document that will serve as a screen continues to be developed. Has been taken to principals	Reports monthly are given to the VIP office. Annual comparisons show that the amount of community contacts have increased yearly.
Articulation Agreements	Top priority	Articulation agreements exist in 4 key areas. The postsecondary commission?s ruling of allowing transfer of credits has accelerated the need for these agreements	Articulation agreements have been made for 32 courses	Meetings semi-annually are scheduled to continue this effort.
Build School Community Teams	Top priority	Nine teams participated in the STC Institutes	Nine school-community teams participated in the STC Institute in the summer of 1998. Action plans are being implemented	Quarterly reports form each team are submitted to the STC Office. Each team is progressing in action plan implementation.

Step 4: Set Up Steering Committee to Guide and Monitor the Partnership

Steering Committee Members	Contact Information				Priority Area(s) (interests/focus)
Steering Committee Members	Title/Affiliation	Address	Phone/Fax	E-Mail	Priority Area(s) (interests/focus)
Education
	Leaders and representatives of all groups listed in Step 1				Divided into key sub-committees. Equally balanced between education and community for each committee
Business
	Leaders and representatives of all groups listed in Step 1				Balanced with other stakeholders on sub-committees
Family
	Leaders and representatives of all groups listed in Step 1				Same
Community
	Leaders and representatives of all groups listed in Step 1				Same
Government
	Leaders and representatives of all groups listed in Step 1				Same

Step 5: Collaboratively Set and Prioritize Short- and Long-Term Objectives

Goals (examples)	Objectives
Goals (examples)	Short-Term (semiannually)	Long-Term (annually and beyond)
Priority Area
K-12 Curriculum Review	Draft the K-12 curriculum screen which includes the basic skills, workplace behaviors, and connecting activities. Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators	Throughout the next 7 years use this curriculum screen to infuse STC concepts into the curriculum for all subjects Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators
Developing articulation agreements with postsecondary institutions	Work with Southeast Community College on computer technology courses and business courses Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators	Work with Southeast Community College on industrial technology areas to make articulation agreements. Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators, postsecondary institutions
Build school-community teams	In the spring and summer of 1998, nine school-community teams will participate in a STC Institute to develop school improvement actions plans Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators	The nine school-community teams will implement their action plans that include STC concepts in their school improvement plan. Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators
K-12 Sequence of Career Curriculum	Meet monthly with the career curriculum review committee Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators	Make recommendations to the curriculum department leadership on changes to the K-12 career counseling and curriculum program. Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators
Workplace behaviors	A standard set of workplace behaviors will be identified as the core of what will be taught in Lincoln Public Schools. Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators	Workplace behaviors will be taught to K-12 students in Lincoln Public Schools. Teachers will participate in staff development to implement effort Customers: students, parents, community, employers, educators

Step 6: Create Action Plans and Teams Organized Around Priorities

Action Committees

Committee Members
(contact information)
(examples)

Committee Objectives
(examples)

Tasks/ Activities Assigned

Time Frame

Resources

Requested

Available

Additional Needed

Professional Development

Staff Development Director from LPS and HR mgr from business as co-chairs

STC Institute STC Conferences

Sub-Committee & STC Staff

April/June 1997

STC budget PARTNERS IN EDUCATION grant

Metropolitan In-kind from partners.

Career Education and Counseling

CEO of NE Sign Company & Director of Student Services as co-chairs

Develop and implement K-12 career curriculum

Career education course review and counseling review committees

Monthly meeting report in spring of 1999.

LPS-Student Services budget consultant

Counseling budget

K-12 Curriculum Review

Director of LPS Curriculum & V.P. of State Farm as co-chairs

Infuse K-12 curriculum with STC concepts.

STC sub-committee.

Reviewed by elementary and secondary principals and other stakeholder leaders

Document finalized by May of 1999

Curriculum consultant

STC budget

Implementation LPS curriculum budgets

Promotions

STC Staff

Junior Achievement; Home Builders, teachers, administrators

Develop a media plan to cover all stakeholders to help community become aware of STC concepts and implementation

Develop a media plan

Implemented in fall of 1997

Reviewed, fall of 1998

Journal-Star

Neighborhood Extra, free, bi-monthly ads.

Weekly radio spots on 8 stations.

CableVision agreement to air spots monthly

Partnership Location

Partnership Leadership (contact information)

Partnership Staffing

Staff Responsibilities (list)

Name

Phone

Fax

E-Mail

Ventures in Partnerships and School-to Careers

Partnership Director

Chair, Advisory Committee

Communications and marketing, curriculum and technology, budget, database

Administrative leadership and vision, grant writing, implementation, management, and monitoring

Step 7: Implement Action Plans

Action Committee Objectives (examples)	Activities/ Tasks (examples)	Classification of Activity					Resources Allocated	Activities Accomplished		Comments
Action Committee Objectives (examples)	Activities/ Tasks (examples)	Low (supple- mental)	Medium (program- matic)	High (strategic/ systemic)	Expected	Actual	Resources Allocated	Yes	No	Comments
K-12 Curriculum Review	-- Identify workplace behaviors -- Agree on STC concepts to be implemented -- Articulation agreements		X X	X	1998	1998	Yes	X
Counseling & Career Education	-- Analyze curriculum -- Create career fairs K-12 -- Include more parental involvement	X	X	X	1998 1999 1998	1998 1999 1998	Yes No Yes	X	X X	Ongoing
Communica- tions	Develop and implement media plan.			X	1998-2000	1998-2000	Yes			Ongoing
Professional Development	Enhance and promote the educators in industry class and teacher job shadowing		X		Ongoing		Yes			Ongoing

Step 8: Measure and Report Progress (In process. Not yet available.)

Step 9: Review Annual Results and Plan for the Future (In process. Not yet available.)

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[ Snapshot #3 ]

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

Snapshots of Business/Education Efforts Illustrate that Using This Tool Can Guide Educational Partnership Development and Management

Snapshots of Business/Education Efforts
Illustrate that Using This Tool Can Guide
Educational Partnership Development and Management