Strong schools are vital to the health of a community.
One way to ensure this strength is to utilize community associations, cultural organizations and businesses. Although these groups have different structures and services, partnerships formed among them can be mutually beneficial endeavors. As schools cope with fewer resources and new curriculum frameworks, cultural organizations look to reach broader audiences and increase educational offerings, and community associations and businesses strive to offer productive activities for youth and to build an educated workforce. A partnership's size, scope and vision are determined by the needs and resources of its various partners. Partnerships often begin with a simple transaction, such as a field trip or artist residency, in which a school in effect purchases a service from a cultural group.