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It is important to have school/community partnerships because it is advantagious for both students and people of the community. Students are able to learn about different jobs they want to pursue someday and are given the opportunity to do some volunteer work. Communities get to know the students who learn in their schools as individuals. Often, members of the community will become more interested in donating services or time to schools if they know the students, which can be benefictial to students in many ways. Some advantages include: scholarships offered to students, internship opportunities at local businesses, and possible donations of resources
to the classroom.
Tips for Building School/Community Partnerships
Make sure students are engaged in meaningful work (Students know when they are just doing busywork. Make sure to discuss the meaning of the work being done for an organization so they know they are doing work for an important cause.)
Start small in order to gain credibility and respect from the organization. Once an organization sees how effective student volunteerism is, they will be more willing to offer more chances for students to participate each year.
Acknowledge community partners as educators. This gives clarity to both students and community partners as to what is expected when they are interacting.
Once a partnership is established, try to set up a schedule so it doesn't become a one-time opportunity for the school. This will prove to be beneficial for both parties, as there is ample volunteer work to go around and schools will not have to search for new partnerships each school year.
Develop a shared vision of what should come from this partnership for both parties. It should align with the studies of the students as well as the community partner's mission.
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