Expectations and Accountability

As Learning Resources show, community-school partnerships have the potential to benefit not only students, but teachers, schools as a whole, and the community members and organizations that participate. Nevertheless, community-school partnerships can also bring about unexpected conflicts, challenges, and even power struggles. The rules and interests of private businesses, nonprofits, and other community organizations can differ significantly from those of the schools with which they partner. When community organizations donate time, money, or other resources to schools, it is likely that they will have expectations for how these resources are used and what outcomes the partnerships meet. School professionals must contend with these expectations and determine if and how they can be integrated with their own goals. In this Discussion, you will consider the extent to which community organizations should dictate the terms of partnerships, and how professionals can strike a balance between meeting the expectations of the community and the school. Reflect on the following:

• To what degree do you think community organizations are entitled to dictate the terms of their partnerships?

• How can community organizations balance altruism with accountability?

• What should school professionals do if a community organization seems to have unrealistic expectations?

With these thoughts in mind, follow the instructions below to post your response to this Discussion topic.

Post a description of your thoughts on the degree to which community organizations are entitled to dictate the terms of their partnerships and how you believe a balance between altruism and accountability can best be achieved. In addition, explain at least two specific actions school professionals might take if a community organization seems to have unrealistic expectations.

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