Corporate & School Partnerships: Best Practices & Guiding Principles October 4, 2001.

Corporate & School Partnerships:Best Practices & Guiding Principles

October 4, 2001

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Schools continue to need resources and funding

Increased number of public-private relationships in schools

Increased attention to sales and marketing of products in schools

Increased media focus has caused reexamination of value of public-private relationships

Danger of limiting relationships to appease critics

Educators support public-private relationships

Recognized need for guidelines to translate relationships into appropriate and effective corporate and school partnerships

Research Context & Role

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Two phases of research for project (September 2001):

• School administrator quantitative survey of 260 School Administrators20 minute telephone interviewSample -- national list of school principalsSchool had to have Business or Corporate Foundation partnershipAdministrator who managed the partnership included Principals,

Assistant Principals or Business Coordinator

• Qualitative survey of 47 School Board members and Superintendents

20 minute telephone interview

Sample - national list of board members, and superintendents

• Business executive qualitative survey with 50 large, medium and small businesses

Respondents recruited by broadcast fax1 hour telephone interviewSample -- Partners in Education database

Knowledgeable about business involvement

Research Methodology

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• Conduct a study of school administrators to determine: how often school business partnerships occur what are the objectives of these partnerships how these partnerships function level of satisfaction with partnership arrangements

• Conduct a study of business executives to gather: detailed and comprehensive examples of partnerships

between corporations and education definition of success factors best-in-class exemplars

• Use the data to develop a set of Guiding Principles to lead corporations in building appropriate and effective public-private partnerships in education

Research Objectives

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The Best Practices Research has been guided by counsel from members of the Best Practices Sub-Committee.

Dr. Bruno V. MannoThe Annie E. Casey Foundation

Dr. Patricia E. NewbySuperintendent, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Ms. Delia PompaExecutive Director, National Association for Bilingual Education

Dr. Gerald N. TirozziExecutive Director, National Association of Secondary School Principals

Council Work Group

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To ensure the objectivity of the findings, a third party was contracted to consult and manage the Best Practices research. The National Association of Partners in Education led the research project using two teams of researchers.

National Association of Partners in EducationDaniel W. Merenda, President and CEORanjit Sidhu, Executive Vice President and COO

Consulting Research and Information ServicesE. Judy Barokas, Ph.D., President

Kane, Parsons and Associates, Inc.Herman W. Kane, PresidentR. Wayne Parsons, Executive Vice President

The Best Practices Research Team

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An Overview of Growth & Change

Source: Partnerships 2000: A Decade of Growth and Change

Topic 1990 2000 Increase

Districts withPartnerships

51% 69% 35%

Students Served 29.7Million

35Million

18%

Volunteers 2.6Million

3.4Million

31%

Volunteer Hours N/A 109 Million(52,000 FTE)

N/A

Value to Schools $ 1Billion

$2.4 Billion 102%

Partnerships have increased in number, amount of volunteer hours and value to school.

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An Overview of Growth & Change

Source: Partnerships 2000: A Decade of Growth and Change

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

19902000

ParentOrganizations

SmallBusiness

76%74%

63%

38%

76%

41%

Growth of partnerships is being fueled by private business.

AssociationsNonProfits

MediumCorporations

LargeCorporations

23%

61%

42%

29%34%

59%

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Approach to Developing Guiding Principles

School Administrators

Business Executives

Partners in Education

Industry Analysts

Council Subcommittee

The Council

Research Guiding Themes

Synthesis & Analysis

Guiding Principles

Research Steps: Data Collection, Analysis, and Synthesis

Detailed methodology found in Appendix

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Commerce Process

Philanthropic Process

SchoolBusiness

Business School

Partnership Process

Business School

Mutual benefits define partnerships.

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Key Research Findings

School Administrators

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The majority of school administrator partnerships are developed with business.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent Of Schools Reporting Existance Of Partnerships

Business CorporateFoundations

OtherNon-Profits

PrivateFoundations

GovernmentOrganizations

95%

43%29% 22% 22%

Base: 261 School AdministratorsQ. Does your school have any kind of partnership or joint activity with?

General Partnership Overview

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Importance Of Partnerships To Schools(Percent Extremely/Very Important)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Expand campus buildings

Expand athletic facilities

Meet needs within budget

Improve safety

Reduce absenteeism and drop out rate

Professional development

Prevent substance abuse and other problems

Improve achievement in arts, athletics, etc.

Equipment for extracurricular activities

Funding to increase use of technology

Increase parental involvement

Improve academic achievement in core subjects

Funding for libraries, computers, etc.

Provide students direction in terms of future education

Improve student motivation, self-esteem, etc.

72%60%

49%

44%

28%

General Partnership Overview

The most important areas supported with partnerships focus on student development and advancement. Areas of less importance address the expansion of bricks and mortar.

Base: 261 School AdministratorsQ. How important are partnerships to your ability to provide the following programs?

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Food, beverage, and restaurant companies are mentioned most often in terms of important partnerships.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Base: 261 School Administrators

Q. What company is involved with the most important partnership you rely on to meet your objectives?

Most Important Partnership To The School

General Partnership Overview

33%

17%

19%

5%7%8%11%

Don’tKnow

FinancialMftr.RetailMisc. Profit

Non ProfitFoodBev

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Specific Partnership Evaluation

Base: 261 School AdministratorsQ. Overall, how satisfied are you with the ability of this partnership in meetings its goal?

Degree Of Satisfaction With The Selected Partnership

ExtremelySatisfied

38%

VerySatisfied

49%

Somewhat Satisfied10%

Somewhat/Very Dissatisfied3%

School administrators are very pleased with the performance of their most important business partner.

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Characteristics of Effective Partnerships

1. Ability to resolve problems arising from partnership

2. Clear communication of roles and responsibilities

3. Well planned program4. Value of program to school or students5. Follow-through training for teachers and staff6. Support materials for teachers and staff7. Quality of services and products

Satisfaction with a partnership is highly correlated to these characteristics:

Characteristics listed by order of strength of correlation

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Likelihood Of Continuing The PartnershipBeyond The 2001-2002 School Year

Specific Partnership Evaluation

Definitely67%

Very Likely30%

Not Likely4%

Almost 100% of the school administrators expect to continue the partnership next school year.

Base: 261 School AdministratorsQ. How likely are you to continue this partnership beyond the 2001-2002 school year?

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Commitment to the Partnership

Goals of the partnership and school are perfectly aligned

Goal of the partnership is to advance student education

Formal management system is in place

School conducts formal evaluations of the partnership

Teachers are favorably oriented towards the partnership

Written policy supports business partnerships in the school

Of the administrators definitely continuing the selected partnership, the defining characteristics of commitment are:

There is no rank order for Commitment Characteristics. Characteristics are profiled from questions where committed Administrator answers are distinctly different from the less committed Administrators.

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23%9%3%5%2%

27%

18%17%13%12%

11%

16%

26%26%21%27%26%

34%46%55%61%60%62%

Teachers Students Board ofEducation

Parents CommunityLeaders

The Media

Not sure Unfavorable or neutral Moderately favorable Strongly favorable

Attitudes Of Various Constituencies Towards The Partnership

Specific Partnership Evaluation

Base: 261 School AdministratorsQ. How would you describe the attitudes toward the partnership among the following constituents?

With the exception of the media, school administrators believe the school and community perceive partnerships to be favorable.

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57%

67%

69%

71%

73%

89%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Perceived Benefits Of The Partnership For The Business Partner

Base: 261 School AdministratorsQ. Do you feel the partnership benefits the business partner by? (Percent responding YES)

Perceptions & Attitudes

Goodwill of community and parents

Generating revenue

Direct marketing to students

Advancing role as community leader

Receiving positive media coverage

Building brand loyalty

School administrators clearly recognize benefits of school partnerships for their business partners ranging from “Goodwill” to “Generating Revenue”.

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Appropriateness Of School Providing PublicRecognition Of A Business Partner

Extremely appropriate

Very appropriate

Somewhat appropriate

Not very or not at all appropriateNot sure

35%

41%

17%

3%4%

Base: 261 School AdministratorsQ. How appropriate is it for the school to provide public recognition of the efforts provided by the business partner?

School administrators feel it is appropriate to publicly recognize business partnerships.

Perceptions & Attitudes

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0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

General Partnership Overview

Coca-Cola 11%Pepsi 10%McDonald’s 5%Gen. Mills 1%Kroger 1%Other 6%

Companies in the Food, Beverage and Restaurant industry are most frequently cited as Best Class Partners. Within that category, Coca-Cola and Pepsi are the two companies most often mentioned by name.

Best Class Partnerships

Base: 261 School AdministratorsQ. Can you give me the name of a company you feel is doing an especially good job with school partnerships?

Non Profit

Misc. Profit

Retail Financial Don’tKnow

FoodBeverage

Restaurant

14% 13%

20%

6%

13%

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Key Research Findings

Business Executives

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Participating Companies

AFLAC AIM Foundation Allstate Insurance

Company AllTel American Pest

Control AutoZone Bank One BE&K Inc. Booz-Allen &

Hamilton Bull’s Eye Credit

Union CDK Mortgage Chevron Coca-Cola Connexus Software Coventry Eye Care Davis Applied

Technology Center Duxler Tire

EDS El Paso Energy Evanston, INVEST EXXON-Mobil

Chemical Company EXXON-Mobil First Union National

Bank FPL’s Energy

Encounter Generation Copy Green Bay

MotoPhoto InterWeave Iomega Corporation Kroger LADD Construction Las Vegas

Partnership Office Northrop Grumman

Corporation Overland

Corporation

Pizza Hut Presbyterian Homes Purple Mountain

Media Company Reliant Energy Shell Oil Co.

Foundation Shimadzu Scientific

Instruments Southern Nevada

Water Authority Target Stores Trustmark National

Bank Utah Bankers

Association Valor

Telecommunications W.C. Bradley Washington Mutual Westinghouse-

Savannah River Co.Wisconsin PublicService Corp.

Business interviews included executives from small, medium and large companies.

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FINANCIAL• Increased revenue• Customer loyalty

HUMAN CAPITAL• Employee morale through work on

altruistic program• Employee recruitment & retention• Economic health of community

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT• Better schools increase value of community• Well educated students strengthen the work force• Community education and philanthropy

HUMAN CAPITAL

• Better preparation for world of work

• Successful job placements

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

• Increased funds for schools

• Higher test scores

• Increased student achievement

Benefits to Business and Schools

Business School

Perceived benefits are threefold: Financial, Human Capital Investment and Community Development.

Source: 50 Business Executive Interviews

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• Improved student performance• Increased publicity for business• Larger recruitment pools• Reduced turnover• Higher profitability

Measures of Success

Source: 50 Business Executive Interviews

Business measures success by the level of performance of students and the company.

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• Recognize partnerships are both a process & product

• Identify services and available resources

• Set realistic goals

• Emphasize clear communications

• Create on-going monitoring and evaluation

• Determine mutual needs

• Clarify partnership mission

• Secure top management support and commitment

• Clearly define expectations, roles, and responsibilities

Business Executive Best Practices

Source: 50 Business Executive Interviews

Best Practice principles identified by business executives stress the importance of program planning, process management, and communication.

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Guiding Themes

Characteristics of Effective Partnerships

Business Best Practices

Characteristics of Committed Partnerships

Guiding Themes

GuidingPrinciples

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Commerce Process

Philanthropic Process

SchoolBusiness

Business School

Partnership Process

Business School

Mutual benefits define partnerships.

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Values & Philosophies

1Creating aClimate for

Success7Monitoring

&Evaluation

6Developing &

Managing Human,In-Kind, &Financial Resources

5Developing the

PartnershipManagement

System

4DevelopingAn Action

Plan &Governance Committee

2Assessing Needs,

PotentialResources,

& PartnershipModels

3Developing Vision,

Goals,Objectives,

& EvaluationCommittee

Partnership Development

Process

Values &Culture

The Council Research changes the established Partnership paradigm.

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Guiding Principles for Corporate and School Partnerships

Themes defining effective partnerships fall into three

areas:

• Values

• Structure

• Performance/Results

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Guiding Principles for Corporate and School Partnerships

• Partnership reflects and supports the core values of both school and business.

• Partnership is based on mutually defined and beneficial goals and objectives.

• Partnership concept is integrated into the school and business cultures.

Values Based Themes

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Values Based Theme # 1

• Partnerships are “child-centered,” and enhance the academic, social, and physical well-being of students.

• Partnerships respect the culture and goals of business and education partners.

• Partnerships support the social values and goals of the local community.

Partnership reflects and supports the core values of both school and business.

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Values Based Theme # 2

• The needs of all partners are on the table from the beginning.

• School and business goals are collaborative.• Success is defined from the perspective of all

stakeholders.• Goals and objectives include opportunities for

recognition of both partners.• Partnerships are aligned with education goals of

individual schools and/or districts.

Partnership is based on mutually defined and beneficial goals and objectives.

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Values Based Theme # 3

• Partners communicate frequently to understand

each other’s cultures.

• Students, teachers, and business employees

interact at school and business sites.

Partnership concept is integrated into the school and business cultures.

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Guiding Principles for Corporate and School Partnerships

• Partnership is guided by a written policy(ies) at the school/district level.

• Partnership has a defined management process and structure.

• Partnership holds each partner accountable for specific outcomes.

Structure Based Themes

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Structure Based Theme # 1

• Written policies strengthen and support

partnership by outlining engagement in

commitment to core values and ongoing

administration.

Partnership is guided by a written policy(ies) at the school or district level.

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Structure Based Theme # 2

• School has a point person to manage partnerships to ensure quality and alignment.

• Management structure includes written

procedures for partnerships, roles and

responsibilities, accountability measures, and

guidelines for teachers.

• Partnership training/mentoring is provided to all

key partners.

Partnership has a defined management process and structure.

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Structure Based Theme # 3

• Partnerships are evaluated on a regular basis.

• There is communication of intended and actual

outcomes with all partners.

• Partnerships are guided by collaborative agreement

on outcomes, benchmarks and progress points.

Partnership holds each partner accountable for specific outcomes.

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Guiding Principles for Corporate and School Partnerships

• Partnership is measured by clear definitions of success for both school and business.

• Partnership has articulated and demonstrated support at the highest level within business and schools.

• Partnership is explicitly supported by teachers,

employees and other constituents.

Performance Based Themes

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Performance Based Theme # 1

Partnership is measured by clear definitions of success for both school and business.

• Establish success measures at the outset of the partnership.

• Outcomes are measurable and time bound.

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Performance Based Theme # 2

Partnership has articulated and demonstrated support at the highest level within business and schools.

• Superintendent, principal, school boards, CEO’s and managers articulate and demonstrate support for partnership internally and externally.

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Performance Based Theme # 3

• Teachers and employees understand and

support partnership.

• Community has a positive image of the

partnership.

Partnership is explicitly supported by teachers, employees and other constituents.

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These qualitative data were used to inform the following activities:

Revision of the Guiding Principles

Communication Plan Development

Implementation Tool Development

Key Next Steps