Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) if school or business coordinator turnover creates problems in partnership programs; or (2) affects satisfaction and survival rate; (3) if level of attention to thirty "success elements" identified in the literature affects satisfaction level or survival of partnership programs. Methodology. The sample consisted of the entire population of comprehensive senior high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The Adopt-A-School Partnership Program at each school was surveyed. One-hundred and forty-seven questionnaires were sent to forty-nine high school principals, school partnership coordinators, and business partnership coordinators. Descriptive procedures, Chi Square, and Fisher Exact Test were used to analyze the data. Findings and conclusions. This study found that coordinator turnover does not affect the survival of partnership programs. Nevertheless, principals and school partnership coordinators believe that turnover of the school coordinator's position creates problems. The school partnership coordinator believes that turnover with either (school or business) coordinator creates problems with the partnership program. School coordinators have a higher level of satisfaction with the partnership when turnover of coordinators does not occur. Principals and school and business coordinators experience a high level of satisfaction when the following variables are implemented: designated coordinator, appropriate match/assignment, needs assessment, clear goals and objectives, time to develop activities, written job description, record keeping, contact information, awareness/interest of both partners, internal communication, external communication, peer/staff interaction/support, commitment/support of both partners, resources appropriate for program, accountability, and periodic evaluations. Principals and school coordinators reported high implementation of external communication and internal communication in programs that survived. Lack of interest by business partner was given as a reason partnership programs cease. Recommendations. (1) A how-to-guide, including the significant variables from this study should be created to train new partnership coordinators. (2) Formalized communication channels between school and business partner should be created and used periodically.