An evaluation model for school and business partnerships

Preparing students for the future requires collaboration among all of the stakeholders in education. In establishing educational standards, priorities, and programs, educational leaders need to enter partnerships with ethical business leaders. The purpose of this study is to create an evaluation model for school/business partnerships. The following research questions are addressed: (1) What are the elements of successful school/business partnerships according to business and educational leaders? (2) To what extent do the school/business programs in one large, urban school district adhere to these criteria? Ideas from an ethnographic case study helps to highlight and cross-validate information in the literature cited as important indicators for successful school and business partnerships. The case study involves a partnership between a large, urban, middle school serving an ethnically diverse, low-income population and a large mutual insurance company dedicated to the highest industry standards of ethical business practices. From this data, a survey was developed to measure how the schools and businesses throughout the district fit these criteria for success. The examination of the data from the survey helps to verify the most important elements of successful school/business partnerships. The entire process leads to a new evaluation model and evaluation tool for business and educational leaders. By incorporating systematic evaluation into the planning and implementation of school/business partnership activities, the participants will be equipped to improve their outcomes as well as provide the proof of worth that must ultimately take place. The new evaluation model is called the Partners Affecting Learning (PAL) Evaluation Model. There is also a PAL Evaluation Tool that frames the measurement of the school district data against the indicators of successful school/business partnerships