How can your business or other community organization prosper — while making a big difference? Consider a school-community partnership! To form a partnership, a Henrico County school or department teams up with a community group or business in a cooperative relationship. Partnerships can be big or small, wide-ranging or tightly focused. Community partners contribute materials or funds to schools, give direct assistance to students, implement projects, contribute regular volunteer time, offer staff support or something else. But all partnerships have some things in common.
A school-community partnership:
- Pairs a school with a business, faith-based group or another community organization.
- Is mutually beneficial.
- Is ongoing or has the potential to be ongoing.
- Involves shared values, objectives, and/or human or financial resources.
- Must produce an outcome that enhances the learning environment.
- Includes specific, agreed-upon responsibilities of both the school and community group.
Community partners may provide a variety of services, including:
- Rewards and incentives for achievement.
- Enhanced instruction and workshops.
- Healthy food, clothing and other basic needs.
- Discounts and appreciation for teachers.
- Spirit nights and other fundraisers.
- Tutoring and mentoring.
- School supplies.
- Landscaping and other improvement projects.
- Donations of money and materials.
See how community organizations and businesses are helping our schools — and benefitting themselves.
Find schools near your business, church, club or home.
The HCPS Department of Family and Community Engagement oversees the school-community partnership program, and can help direct you to a possible partner school. Schools and community organizations work out the details of their partnership together, and fill out a joint partnership agreement form, which must then be approved.
