SUNO preservice teachers and social work interns participate in designated schools. Schools in the district must submit an application packet to be considered as a possible partnership site. The partnership teams select schools based on their responses to questions posed in the application. In designated schools, an active collaborative team of SUNO and NOPS professionals work together to build both a student-centered and synergistic relationship based on recommendations of master teachers, master practitioners, and academicians through the processes of negotiation and consensus. The partnership is a team effort at all levels of involvement.
Stakeholders participate in a process designed to reform current principles.
A Policy and Steering Committee composed of a team of professionals, parents, and community members from SUNO and NOPS provide overall guidelines for the partnership. A school governance team called the School Planning and Management Team plans the overall operation of activities for the children. The team, which meets twice a month assumes responsibility for the decisions that are agreed upon. SUNO provides coordinated resources to the NOPS through this support team. This team meets every two weeks, or as needed, and manages mental health, social, and global needs within the schools.