School-business partnerships have existed in some form or fashion for the past couple of centuries. As recent legislation, such as the School-to-Work Opportunities Act and the Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, has pushed for increased involvement between employers and schools, many educational centers have reached out to business for resources that are needed to enhance the educational process for youth. While many schools have been, and continue to be, involved in partnering activities, relationships between schools and business have been vastly understudied. This research is an attempt to discover whether the potential for acquiring resources is the reason schools and businesses form collaborations. It also aims to uncover how business partners, particularly those who serve on advisory boards, shape curriculum and pedagogy. Resource Dependence Theory (Pfeffer and Salancick, 1978) was used to frame the study.Qualitative research methods were used investigate the research questions. Two career and technical education program areas at a high school career center were studied for a 6 month period.
The findings from this study revealed that one of the reasons schools and businesses partner is to obtain resources; however, this was less the case for the businesses. Though some employers cited the possibility of recruiting human capital as a motivator, it was not their main reason for working with schools. Overwhelmingly, employers stated that they simply had a desire to contribute to their communities by helping ensure youth were well prepared for jobs and college. While teachers and administrators cited more material reasons for partnering, those reasons were imperative for making sure students received appropriate training. Administrators and teachers believed employers could assist them with ensuring course curricula were updated and relevant. They also desired to have businesses help meet needs that their budgets could not. Often, business partners contributed equipment, supplies, and funding to help the school provide the best possible education for its students.