In 1992, the local business community, led by the Garland Chamber of Commerce, formed a partnership with the school district known as BEST - the Business Education Scholastic Team. Local businesses are encouraged to adopt a local school and get involved with the process of education.
Partners provide resources in any number of ways.
Some common choices are allowing employees work time to volunteer at the school as a tutor or classroom assistant, providing funding for special programs, serving on Campus Improvement Teams, and providing special incentives for student attendance or achievement. Friends are encouraged to support schools by recognizing that many of their employees are parents and need time to be involved with their child's education. In addition to recognizing that their employees may be parents, businesses are asked to respect the educational needs of student employees. Employers are asked not to demand or allow students to work long hours that negatively affect their grades. They are also encouraged to set high academic standards for their school-age employees.