Continuous Processes to Stay Relevant

Maintaining relevance within education partnerships is all about remaining focused on the mission and goals of the partnership. This does not mean things stay the same. Because educational issues are dynamic, partnerships must be ever cognizant of the changing demands and external pressures brought to bear on their members. Analysis of the Alliance participants reveals that their missions have remained steady while their strategies for accomplishing their goals are adjusted as needs of their members change.

Several of the partnerships rely on regular surveys of their constituents and even of their business partners and community. Shasta has utilized this technique to better understand the types of workforce training needs that are developing within the region. Businesses were surveyed and a particular need for degree and certificate programs in medical technology professions emerged, a need that can be met through the community college. Training for high demand jobs now can serve as a powerful attraction for students to attend college. The San Diego North County Federation surveys its own partner districts each year to make sure their professional development and training are relevant to the needs of their partners' teacher force. Often such training must be developed in response to new national, state or local mandates. Kern County, which focuses on recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, surveys all teachers who resign. This information is used to change policies and practices that may not be perceived as teacher friendly.

All of the partnerships use data to determine if their strategies are effectively supporting the goals of the partnership. City Heights relies on the university community to engage actively in research to provide solutions to contemporary problems in the region. Kern has the services of the Stanford Research Institute to measure the effectiveness and relevance of their work. Santa Ana uses data sharing to establish program and intervention priorities.

Linking to the business community is becoming much more prevalent among education partnerships. City Heights, Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Shasta in particular have found this connection critical to remaining relevant and tuned into the expectations of the private sector. Price Charities (led by the founder of Price Club) is the major funding partner in City Heights and economic development is a centerpiece for this local partnership. Healthcare, retail grocers, and financial institutions lend their advice as well. The Boeing Company is a steady partner within the Long Beach Education Partnership, not only by providing funding, but also by serving as consultants on planning committees for education projects. Santa Ana involves businesses as a part of their overall mission to build leadership capacity within this growing and developing Latino community.

Long Beach and Santa Cruz rely on formal strategic planning models as a means to stay relevant. City Heights has created a rolling five-year agreement for its partnership. Each year the parties discuss their level of satisfaction with the partnership, including how well the partnership is meeting their needs. If all partners are satisfied, the agreement is extended another year. If a party decides it wants out, the other partners can plan for the withdrawal of that partner, and/or the dissolution or revision of the partnership.

All partners rely heavily on either their steering or advisory committees for feedback on the relevance as well as effectiveness. Santa Cruz has three different advisory groups representing different interests. Teacher unions are also influential in communicating their perspective on the relevance of the partnerships. Long Beach includes the president of the teachers association on its steering committee and as a part of its team when participating in K-16 education conferences such as the Education Trust Annual Conference or the California K-16 Student Success and Partnership Conference. Such critical friends as the Education Trust also remind the partnerships of relevant activities and practices. Kern County receives such technical support from WestEd as the partnership strives to keep its teacher recruitment activities up to date and effective.