DD. Corporate/School Partnerships
Philosophically the NLTA is opposed to corporate/school partnerships. However, where they do exist, such partnerships must be based on sound educational principles, built on trust and mutual respect between the contracting parties, and established under the following conditions:
- Partnerships shall be based on shared objectives and a clear definition of the responsibilities of each party.
- Partnerships shall not exploit students.
- Partnerships shall benefit students and staff.
- The expectations of each partner shall be clearly defined before entering into the partnership.
- Full discussion involving the participating school board, school staff, school council, parent groups and the prospective business partner shall take place before entering into a partnership.
- Partnerships shall not compromise the aims, goals, and outcomes of public education.
- Teacher participation in partnerships shall be voluntary.
- Partnership agreements shall be for a specified period of time.
- Partnership agreements shall be systematically evaluated.
- Partnerships shall not be established to compensate for inadequate provincial or local funding for education.
- The Department of Education and school boards should develop, through wide consultation, guidelines regarding corporate involvement in education and should monitor and publicly report on such ventures.
- Programs of corporate involvement should meet an identified education need, not a commercial motive.
- The Department of Education and school boards should ensure that opportunities for partnerships are made available, on an equitable basis, to all schools regardless of size, grade levels, or location. [Apr/6-7/00] [JC Oct/00] [2001 BGM]
