In national survey, schools pick businesses as their most important community partners
CHARLOTTE, NC – The results of a national survey released today revealed that school and district officials rank businesses as their most important community partners over parent organizations, booster clubs, foundations, and others. This was just one of several findings published in "Community/School Partnerships: A National Survey" that examines the integral role businesses and others play in supporting K-12 education.

The report is the first in a series from consulting/communications firm DeHavilland Associates to research the value of community partnerships, an area of education that has rarely been studied.

In this report, education officials also offered insights into how they establish and manage community/school partnerships, what types of relationships they've established with key partners, and with which organizations they'd most like to work in the future. A sample of key findings:

• The total value of partnerships over the previous 12 months was limited, with 43.6% reporting a value of $25,000 or less, and the vast majority (83.0%) listing the value at less than $200,000.
• There were clear differences in the responses of suburban, urban, and rural schools and districts.
Those in suburban areas note generally higher levels of support from community-based partners; those in urban areas receive greater support from institutional partners (nonprofits, foundations, and postsecondary institutions); and those in rural areas record below-average levels of support from every partner with the exception of booster clubs.
• Rankings of current partners reinforced the importance of local support, with regional/national foundations and nonprofits appearing at the bottom of the list (10 and 12 respectively). However, these organizations are seen as attractive future partners, with regional/national foundations listed third and regional/national nonprofits listed sixth on the ranking of partners with whom respondents would most like to develop a relationship.

"Community/school partnerships are an important, but often overlooked, facet of public education," said Brett Pawlowski, president of DeHavilland Associates. "This survey lays

essential groundwork in this area and provides valuable information that will help education professionals and their community partners to build better partnerships in the future."

To download a free copy of "Community/School Partnerships: A National Survey," visit www.dehavillandassociates.com/resources.html.

About DeHavilland Associates

DeHavilland Associates is a consulting and communications firm that helps its clients understand and connect with the K-12 community. The company designs, manages, and evaluates outreach campaigns and partnership programs for its corporate and nonprofit clients and creates original initiatives to help educators and K-12 stakeholders establish and strengthen dialogue for the benefit of public education.

Published February 23, 2007