Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 4/21/2023 - 7:00 PM
Category: School and Community Relations
Type: Info
Subject: ACPS Partnership Update
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Policy: KM - Relations with Community Organizations
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
230421_Board Brief_Community_Partner_Update_v1.pdf
Agenda Item Summary: Partnerships with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) are essential to the success of our students, staff, families and educational community. When we align and coordinate our efforts to address barriers to learning and generate new opportunities, we can inspire civic engagement in students and encourage lifelong learning. By working together, we can also ensure, in alignment with the ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan: Equity For All, that ACPS is an effective place that connects students and families with essential resources and learning opportunities. For a partnership ecosystem to move forward successfully, it takes the unique contributions of each type of partner to together constitute a rich array of support and learning opportunities for youth.
Background: Currently, ACPS and the Office of Community Partnerships and Engagement (CPE) has approximately 160 partners and 90 additional higher education partners who have signed official agreements with our office. Those partnerships are mainly non-profit with a non exchange of funding. These official partners support various focus areas, buildings/departments and align strongly with our ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan. The Office of Community Partnerships and Engagement continues to strengthen current partnerships with multiple types of support, information/guidance and data requests through in-person and virtual meetings, email/phone correspondence and newsletters. We also guide new potential partners through the agreement process and connect them with the aligned school/department leadership as needed. The executive director of community partnerships and engagement is part of multiple city organizations, commissions and boards (e.g. Children Youth and Families Collaborative Commission, City and Schools Staff Group, Volunteer Alexandria, Youth Support Network, Unified Implementation) which allows for continuous connection and latest information to be brought back to the partnership team as needed. Throughout the year, the office reflects and analyzes the impact of our partnerships and identifies potential support gaps that are based on alignment with school and department plans.
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the information in this memo to gain a better understanding of the path moving forward to expand and strengthen partnership opportunities to meet the ever-growing needs of our school community.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Julia Burgos - Chief of School and Community Relations
Signed By:
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt - Interim Superintendent