|
|
|
|
|
Meeting Date:
|
1/21/2022 - 7:00 PM
|
|
Category:
|
School and Community Relations
|
|
Type:
|
Info
|
|
Subject:
|
ACPS Partners Update
|
|
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
|
Goal 1: Systemic Alignment ACPS will build a culture of continuous improvement and design equitable systems for school and instructional improvement. Goal 2: Instructional Excellence ACPS will ensure that all students have access to and engagement with high-quality instruction. Goal 3: Student Accessibility and Support ACPS will ensure students have equitable access to and engagement with programs and supports that reduce barriers to learning. Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments. Goal 5: Family and Community Engagement ACPS will ensure that all families and community members feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
|
|
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
|
|
|
File Attachment:
|
|
|
Agenda Item Summary:
|
As part of its charge, the Office of Community Partnerships and Engagement continues to focus on building and strengthening broad-based, innovative partnerships that strengthen all ACPS students' education. Through these partnerships, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) inspires civic engagement in students and encourages lifelong learners. This commitment to building strong partnerships has resulted in being able to provide the ACPS educational community with the supplemental resources and high-impact support needed, even through the past and current pandemic challenges.
In alignment with our goal of continuous improvement and best practices, we are exploring and implementing strategies and tactics that will provide additional clarity for our partners, community, schools and departments.
|
|
Background:
|
Currently, ACPS and the Office of Community Partnerships and Engagement (CPE) has approximately 160 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. CPE 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.
Moving forward, CPE is currently analyzing the data that was collected during a partnership forum that was conducted in collaboration with Education Elements. That data spotlighted the following key takeaways from our partners that would strengthen our partnerships:
● Idea + Key Takeaway #1: Portal for partners to share ideas and view each others’ metrics, post updates, requests for support and other news in one place.
● Idea + Key Takeaway #2: Partnership Council - The creation of consistent and targeted support from school buildings and central office by assembling an advisory group of partners to support the design of the aforementioned portal, as well as other broader partner support initiatives in ACPS.
● Idea + Key Takeaway #3: Partner liaisons in Schools - related to the point above, to ensure all partners have a specific point-person to connect with, regardless of building and division turnover.
In addition to these key takeaways, the office has also added the following as aligned strategic plan tactics:
● Conduct quarterly partnership relationship meetings with large-scale partners to check implementation and progress of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding.
|
|
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. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. - Superintendent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|