Community in Education: Ideas to Bring Businesses, Schools and Communities Together

Schools and businesses have common and often compatible goals to better prepare their students for higher education, careers, and life. The Learning First Alliance and business partners from leading industries discuss new ways to reach their mutual goals in a report, “Community in Education: Bringing Businesses and Schools Together.” It encourages schools to partner with local businesses, from large, multi-national corporations to small, family-owned storefronts, to give their students more meaningful, real-life educational experiences.

LFA, Business Partners Examine Apprentice Program

Members of the Learning First Alliance and business colleagues visited Newport News Shipbuilding’s Apprentice School last month to tour the apprenticeship program and discuss the potential of apprenticeships in a variety of fields. They saw how these on-the-job training opportunities help students build skills and valuable job experiences to launch a high-growth, well-paid and stable career path. Learn more.

Back-to-School Toolkit Helps Schools Communicate

With the challenges that public schools in many places are facing, and a national narrative that seems to question their value, it is important that all members of the education community—teachers, superintendents, school counselors, parent leaders, principals, school board members and many others—can explain the opportunities their schools offer so that individual children can reach their full potential. LFA's back-to-school communications toolkit is designed to help your school reach out to parents, community members, legislators and the public at large, including social media images.