[Youth-list] Biz and education

[JMRab at aol.com]

Good early morning.  We continue to seek a partnership with business  as we 
work to improve the learning environments and outcomes for our children  and 
youth. See the recent article below, and the URL to one that I did some  years 
ago with Harry Orlick, retired IBMer on the same subject but related to  early 
education partnerships. Both are instructive. JMG
 

1. BUSINESS COALITION LEADERS SPEAK OUT ON EDUCATION
Business  coalitions were identified as the most desired community partners 
of schools and  districts in a recent national survey of administrators. But 
what do coalitions  look for in a partnership? And how can school and district 
leaders successfully  develop relationships with the coalitions in their areas? 
To help administrators  determine when and how to pursue such partnerships, 
DeHavilland Associates  polled coalition leaders on their activities, 
interests, and experiences in  working with schools and districts. Key findings from 
this survey of coalition  leaders include: (1) Workforce preparedness ranks as 
coalitions’ top educational  priority, followed by graduation rates and mastery 
of basic skills; (2) While  coalitions work more in urban areas than in 
suburban or rural ones,  accessibility to location is the least important factor 
when selecting partners.  More important are their willingness to collaborate, 
their commitment to the  project, and their interest in obtaining measurable 
outcomes; (3) Coalitions  spend more than twice as much time working at the high 
school level than at the  elementary, middle, or postsecondary levels; (4) 
When asked about the support  they offer to education partners, coalitions cited 
expertise most frequently.  Other popular areas include providing volunteers 
and mentors, goods and  services, and political support. Direct financial 
giving ranked last; (5) While  coalitions manage some structured programs, most of 
their projects are designed  collaboratively with their partners, and they 
follow through on those projects  by tracking activity and outcomes; and (6) 
Coalition leaders are predominantly  satisfied with both the partnership process 
and outcomes; however, they offered  several suggestions on how schools and 
districts can increase their  attractiveness as partners and build more 
effective partnerships.  
http://www.dehavillandassociates.com/resources.html.

2. _http://www.ctkidslink.org/pub_detail_48.html_ 
(http://www.ctkidslink.org/pub_detail_48.html) 
 
Janice M. Gruendel, Ph.D.
Governor's Senior Advisor on Early  Childhood
Co-Chair, CT Early Childhood Education Cabinet
Senior Youth  Consultant
Office for Workforce Competitiveness
Home office:  203-481-9940
Blackberry: 203-824-4766
Mail to: 28 Juniper  Point
Branford, CT 06405

"Few will  have the greatness to bend history itself. But each of us can work 
to change a  small portion of events and in the total of those acts will be 
written the  history of this generation." Robert Kennedy



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