PI8 Community Sponsored Instructional Programs

 A community sponsored instructional program is defined as a program that presents information or content to students, is sponsored by a community agency, and is intended to be implemented for a large group of students in a cluster, level, or district. It does not refer to a partnership or a community organization such as a Join-A-School partnership or a one-time exchange of support between a school and agency.

• One-time partnerships or presentations that are limited to one school can be approved at the school site.
• If the program proposal affects only two to three clusters, the administration at the schools affected can be contacted.
• Community agencies, organizations, or businesses that desire to present new instructional programs in APS schools must first contact the office of Community Relations.
• The Director of Community Relations will work with the community agency to communicate information the agency must provide.
• Community agencies will be asked to provide information which includes:  the purpose of the program, an overview of the proposed program, compelling research that supports the program, funding sources, sponsorship of the program, and contact information.
• If the program is found to support APS standards and meets other APS criteria regarding funding and ongoing support, the information about the program will be referred to Teaching and Learning Systems (TLS).
• Programs with extensive scope, budget, and/or APS commitments will be presented to the appropriate Curriculum Board for approval.  Only after receiving the approval of  the Curriculum Board will information on these programs be sent to schools for their choice to participate.
• Schools will not be expected to participate in any or all community sponsored instructional programs, but will receive information on all programs that follow this procedure.

Classification: IG, IGC, IJO

Drafted: May 1998

Approved: February 1999

Revised: January 2005