Seven Ways to Improve Community Partnerships

Reprinted from CommLINK

It is hard work to keep the community involved in your school, but the effort pays off. Following are some tips to improve your relationships with partners like local businesses, after-school care providers, higher education institutions, foundations, and other community-based organizations.

1. Convene a few times a year. Invite all agencies and community partners that serve students or their families. Ask everyone to come prepared to talk briefly about their organization’s mission, clients, and current partnerships. Create a plan for working together, along with check-in points to assure progress is occurring.
2. Invite businesses to school events. Extend invitations to businesses for events such as performances and recognition celebrations. This gives businesses the opportunity to be a part of the school’s life and promotes long-lasting partnerships.
3. Publicly acknowledge partnerships. Partnerships can be acknowledged through newsletters, the district Web site, and signs at the school. Make partnerships more visible.
4. Mention generosity frequently and prominently. When businesses agree to assist the school by making donations, providing staff, or helping in other ways, acknowledge their contributions.
5. Get feedback and ideas to improve outreach to families. When community-based organizations meet to discuss programs and services they are providing to families, use the opportunity to discuss any ideas they may have about improving outreach to families.
6. Ask all who participate in meetings to evaluate progress and identify obstacles. Ask the following questions:
   1. Does the work provide opportunities to share resources and reach more families?
   2. Was the meeting an opportunity to expand possibilities?
   3. How can future meetings be more productive?
7. Write thank-you notes. Have students write thank-you notes to businesses that contribute to the school.

Sources: Supporting Parent, Family, and Community Involvement in Your School, June 2002; Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

June 2008