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Effective Partnerships
for Mathematics, Science, and Technology
The national and state standards in mathematics, science, and technology
education emphasize the need for high standards for all students to
be at the forefront of K-12 educational reform. With the publication
of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (1997) and
the 1999 Third International Mathematics and Science Study Repeat (TIMSS-R),
American students are being compared on an international level with
their peers at the fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades.
The recent passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public
Law 107-110) emphasizes four basic education reform principles of stronger
accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control,
increased options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that
have been proven to work.
The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in mathematics, science
and five other academic areas, including standards relating to workplace
readiness, highlight the State's emphasis on accountability and student
achievement. New Jersey currently assesses students in mathematics and
language arts in grades 3, 4, 8, and 11 and in science in grade 8. By
2005, this will extend to include grades 5, 6, and 7 in mathematics
and language arts as well as adding a science assessment to grades 4
and 11.
Recognizing the need for worldwide economic competitiveness and productivity,
businesses and corporations have become actively involved in supporting
mathematics and science achievement, including the need for all students
to become technologically literate.
Businesses have moved from the "adopt a school model" to
investing in a long-term commitment to improve student achievement.
There are a variety of school-business partnerships that might include
awards, scholarships, or incentives for students to increase academic
achievement, donations of computers and equipment, guest speakers, use
of facilities or equipment, academic tutoring or mentoring of students,
grants for teachers or opportunities for them to collaborate on research
activities, and professional development for teachers and administrators.
In beginning a dialogue with businesses, schools are cautioned not
to bring up money as their primary concern. Initial discussions should
focus on mutual needs and benefits for both parties. Businesses have
a wide variety of resources that can assist schools with mutually identified
goals. What follows are some guidelines that will assist schools and
businesses in developing a successful partnership. Like any relationship,
it requires hard work, commitment, and continual communication for the
partnership to thrive and grow.
Partnership Guidelines
- Aim for an ongoing and long-term relationship - Many businesses
are looking for long term and systemic ways to influence the way in
which schools operate. A needs assessment survey can be developed
for the classroom, school, or district and priorities can be established
based on the outcomes of the survey.
- Get top level commitment - Teachers, principal, superintendent,
and school board approval are critical factors if a school-business
partnership is to get off the ground. Similarly, the commitment of
the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Community Affairs Coordinator
or Public Relations Director of a company should support the development
of a partnership with a school district.
- Decide on overall goals - A letter may be initiated by a
classroom teacher, the principal, or a superintendent to a business
to set up a meeting to explore ways in which a school and a company
could work together.
- Be flexible - Businesses and schools represent two different
cultures. Language, time, legal constraints, and the needs of their
constituents vary considerably between the two groups. Businesses
are interested in the "bottom line" while schools have a
myriad of pressures to contend with. A third party facilitator, such
as a parent, a Chamber of Commerce representative, a school district
coordinator, a member of a not-for-profit agency, or someone in mathematics
or science education from an institution of higher education may be
helpful in setting up a series of meetings to ensure that all points
of view are being heard.
- Build on little successes and publicize your efforts - Publicizing
your partnership efforts through the local newspaper or district newsletter
will serve to highlight your partnership and will also give visibility
to the business as a contributing member of the local community.
- Provide adequate time for planning - Through a series of
meetings, adequate time should be devoted to assess needs, prioritize
goals, and plan a series of activities.
- Put goals, objectives, projects, and timelines in writing
- Having a clear, well-articulated set of benchmarks, strategies,
and outcomes will keep the partnership focused and on task.
- Assign a staff person or outreach coordinator to develop partnerships
- If possible, a school or district should assign an individual to
develop partnerships and to engage in outreach activities.
- Evaluation - Periodic formative and summative evaluations
are beneficial in identifying problem areas, assist in short term
and long term planning, program refinement, program expansion, and
institutionalization of the partnership.
- Maintain a positive attitude - There will always be doomsayers
who say that partnerships are too labor intensive and will not work.
Ignore those who predict failure before a partnership even has an
opportunity to get off the ground. Learn from other people's mistakes
so that you can avoid making them when developing your own partnership.
Selected Partnerships and Resources
Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC) identifies effective curriculum
resources, develops high-quality professional development materials,
and disseminates useful information
and products to improve K-12 mathematics and science teaching and learning.
For further information about their extensive curriculum, professional
resources and services visit www.enc.org
Family Tools and Technology (FTT)
Family Tools and Technology is an award winning after-school program
that focuses on technological design and problem solving while supporting
the application of mathematics and scientific principles. Design and
problem solving activities in FTT are especially appropriate for girls
and boys and their parents/guardians. For further information visit
their website at www.tcnj.edu/~njssi/
National Alliance of Business
The National Alliance of Business is a national business organization
focused on increasing student achievement and improving the competitiveness
of the workforce. A number of their publications focus on improving
mathematics and science achievement in K-12 schools. For further information
visit http://www.edutopia.org/php/orgs.php?id=ORG_300282
Raritan Valley Community College - Planetarium Department
Project ASTRO is an innovative program offered by the Planetarium Department
that partners volunteer astronomers with second through twelfth grade
teachers. The astronomers make at least four visits to their partner
teacher's class to conduct hands-on astronomy activities. For additional
information about programs in astronomy education visit their website
at www.raritanval.edu/planetarium
The New Jersey Statewide Systemic Initiative (NJ SSI)
NJ SSI is a unique partnership of schools, districts, colleges and universities,
science centers and museums, business and industry dedicated to strengthening
mathematics, science, and technology education for all students in New
Jersey. For a listing of their programs, extensive resources and services
visit http://njssi.rutgers.edu
PSE&G/NJ BISEC Environmental Education Grant Program
PSE&G and the New Jersey Business/Industry/Science Education Consortium
(NJ BISEC) offer an Environmental Education Grant Program. Teachers
of grades K-9 who have projects or classroom unit ideas that connect
environmental education with the teaching of mathematics, science, computer
science and/or technology concepts are eligible to apply. For more information
or a grant application, visit www.pseg.com/community
and select Teacher and Student Resources and Environmental Education.
Tech Corps New Jersey
Tech Corps New Jersey is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated
to infusing technology in K-12 teaching and learning. Working with Verizon,
Prudential, KPMG, the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce and dozens
of its member companies throughout the state, Tech Corps New Jersey
links schools in need of assistance with business volunteers with the
appropriate expertise. For further information, visit www.tcnj.org.
Toyota Tapestry Program
In cooperation with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA),
the Toyota Tapestry Program awards grants of up to $10,000 each to K-12
science teachers. Interested teachers propose innovative science projects
that can be implemented in their school or school district over a one-year
period. For further information about this program visit www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry
8-03 - New Jersey Association of Partners in Education
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