Organizational Culture:
Service Learning & Community
START Metric #13:
Local Partnerships
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Ideas & Resources
Forming local partnerships is a powerful way for schools to strengthen their sustainability efforts while building meaningful connections within the community. This START metric focuses on collaborating with non-school entities, such as school districts, government agencies, non-profit organizations, or local businesses, to advance economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Partnerships can take many forms, from creating donation hubs to supporting invasive species removal or co-hosting community events.
By engaging with local organizations, schools can amplify their impact, access valuable resources and expertise, and inspire collective action. These partnerships also provide hands-on learning opportunities for students and foster a sense of community pride and responsibility.
Strategies for Establishing and Sustaining Local Partnerships
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Identify Potential Partners
Research local organizations, businesses, or agencies with missions aligned with your school’s sustainability goals.
Consider partners with expertise in areas like waste reduction, renewable energy, biodiversity, or social equity.
Start with Shared Goals
Meet with potential partners to identify common objectives and areas for collaboration.
Align goals to ensure mutual benefits and shared accountability.
Co-Host Events or Initiatives
Partner on community cleanups, tree planting events, or invasive species removal projects.
Host sustainability workshops or public forums to raise awareness and engage the broader community.
Establish Donation Hubs
Collaborate with non-profits or local businesses to set up donation centers for clothing, food, or school supplies.
Use these hubs to support local families while promoting reuse and waste reduction.
Leverage Resources and Expertise
Partner with local government agencies or utilities to access grants, data, or technical expertise.
Work with environmental organizations to implement biodiversity projects like pollinator gardens or wetland restoration.
Develop Volunteer Opportunities
Organize student and staff volunteer projects with local organizations, such as food banks, shelters, or conservation groups.
Create ongoing partnerships to provide regular opportunities for community involvement.
Create Community-Led Projects
Work with local groups to develop initiatives like shared gardens, composting programs, or renewable energy installations.
Ensure projects are inclusive and address community-specific needs.
Promote Local Business Collaboration
Partner with local businesses to procure sustainable products or services.
Work together on campaigns to promote green practices, such as reusable packaging or energy efficiency.
Incorporate Partnerships into Curriculum
Use partnerships to create hands-on learning opportunities, such as field trips, guest lectures, or collaborative research projects.
Encourage students to take leadership roles in partnership initiatives.
Engage the School Community
Involve students, staff, and families in partnership projects to build support and participation.
Use newsletters or social media to share updates and encourage involvement.
Monitor and Measure Impact
Track the outcomes of partnership initiatives, such as waste reduced, trees planted, or funds raised.
Use data to assess the partnership’s success and identify areas for improvement.
Celebrate and Publicize Success
Highlight achievements through events, reports, or press releases to showcase the partnership’s impact.
Use these celebrations to strengthen relationships and inspire further collaboration.
Participate in Local Policy Efforts
Collaborate with local governments on initiatives like energy transition plans or urban greening projects.
Advocate for policies that support sustainability at the community level.
Provide Reciprocal Value
Ensure partnerships benefit both the school and the external organization by offering support, such as student volunteers or access to school facilities for events.
Create a culture of mutual respect and shared contribution.
Maintain Long-Term Relationships
Establish regular communication and check-ins with partners to sustain collaboration over time.
Periodically review partnership goals and adjust as needed to remain aligned with evolving priorities.
‘How To’ Guides
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NAAEE's Guidelines for Excellence in Community Engagement
Although these guidelines were created in the North American context, the principles are universally relevant.
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A How-to Guide for Building School-Community Partnerships
This resource from Education Week offers a comprehensive guide to building effective school-community partnerships.
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Students and Communities Can Be Better Served via Partnerships Research Brief
This research brief from Child Trends explores how partnerships between community organizations and schools can improve student outcomes, particularly for at-risk youth.
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Terracycle (USA)
FundArt supplies, new uniforms, instruments, and the spring musical—fundraising for your school can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. You can earn cash for school simply by recycling and fundraising with TerraCycle!
Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.