Community Partners
Role of community partners
Community partners are businesses, non-profit organizations, or individuals serving on the ELO team for a student. In general, community partners:
- provide the learning experiences/environment that allow the student to gain mastery in the pre-determined competencies
- support and coach students in their ELO experience
- provide the student with timely, detailed feedback to develop skills, knowledge, problem-solving ability, creativity, and complex thinking
The ELO team is composed of:
- student
- certified educational expert
- community partner
- ELO coordinator
- parents/guardians
The specific role of an ELO community partner is determined at the outset with the student, teacher, and ELO coordinator.
Developing community partnerships
Community partner relationships are often developed and nurtured by one person at the school who represents the official face of ELOs to the business and nonprofit community. That person can help identify partnerships, gather feedback for and from the community partners, and help address any challenges that may arise.
The Community Partner Template provides a path through the process of developing a relationship with a community partner and doing an ELO together.
These are guidelines for a process and should not substitute for a handbook of policies and procedures related to your school’s ELO program.
Required NH Department of Labor approvals
Whenever a student goes into a workplace for an ELO, the site will need prior NH Department of Labor (DOL) approval. Federal and state child labor laws regulate what work-based activities minors can participate in. Some occupations are restricted according to age.
Create a process for identifying and approving ELO sites so that it’s clear which adult is responsible for which portions of the DOL approval process. The Forms section of the NH DOL website has the necessary forms. The Next Steps NH website has a user-friendly guide, Create Approved Work-Based Learning Experiences, to help you through the process.
New Hampshire business, organizational, and state partners
NH Needs High School Caregivers is a grant-funded effort to encourage and help high school students start a healthcare career as a nursing assistant. The program, Healthcare Heroes in the Making, covers tuition, uniform and licensing costs. The NH Needs Caregivers team works hand-in-hand with schools’ ELO coordinators or academic advisors to verify students’ eligibility for the program (so that they receive academic credit). Funding goes through Dec 31, 2022.
- Promotional posters (PDF)
- May newsletter (PDF)
NH Construction Career Days is an annual two-day event for high school students to gain career awareness in the construction and transportation industries through hands-on experience with heavy equipment, welding, small tools, plumbing, electrical wiring, surveying, waste water management, bridge construction, land clearing, underground utilities, and other construction related jobs.
VLACS, the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School will partner with schools to support ELOs. VLACS ELO Partnership information
