Potential Barriers

Overcoming Barriers

Cultural differences – Businesses and schools operate differently. Businesses expect immediate results and may be disappointed by the time and process involved in setting up a partnership.

Encourage both parties to meet and establish expectations and goals from the outset.

Turnover – New principals and business leaders who are unfamiliar with the program may not buy in at first.

Provide strong communication and recognition programs as well as testimonials about successful programs to encourage participation.

Busy school staff – Since most school liaisons are not paid, it is sometimes hard to find a school coordinator.

Encourage schools to offer some type of incentive to the coordinators – performance pay, gift certificates or planning time.

Background checks – In today’s world, many school districts require all volunteers to have a background check.

Make the process as simple as possible by having the proper forms available during the orientation meetings.

School staff resistance – Some teachers fear outsiders in their classrooms and may think the program is more trouble than it’s worth.

Involve teachers in determining how partners can be involved in ways that enhance student achievement and reduce teachers’ burden.

Training – Schools may not make the commitment to train and use volunteers appropriately.

Get a commitment from school leadership that teachers will participate in training with the partners.

Communication – Keeping the lines of communication open between the school and business is essential.

Establish regularly scheduled opportunities for the school and business coordinators to talk about how the program is going. Provide communications tools, such as newsletters, Web sites, etc.