Educational Partnerships in Rocky View School Division, Part 1, 3(1)

Educational Partnerships are an important strategy for increasing the authenticity and value of school for our future citizens. In addition to the financial benefits that business-school partnerships often bring to schools, there are a variety of teaching and learning benefits of making links with the community at large. This paper outlines a number of reasons why schools, business, industry, and other agencies in the community should actively pursue educational partnerships, shares examples of successful and valuable educational partnerships in Rocky View School Division, and concludes with an examination of some issues and concerns. In subsequent discussion, Part 2 of this paper, we examine in detail the educational partnerships that have contributed to the success of the Galileo Centre at Banded Peak School in Bragg Creek, Alberta.