Governor to Sign Partnership School Bill Wednesday

Imagine a school where both  students and  teachers learn. A school that allows talented kids to absorb math and science skills in a university environment, at no additional cost.

A school that brings together teachers and planners from four school districts and one university, to create a collaborative learning experience.

That’s the vision behind the proposed “partnership school” that will serve students from four school districs—Oswego, East Aurora, West Aurora and Indian Prairie—on the grounds of Aurora University. Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign legislation Wednesday in Aurora that will set the stage for this project, the first of its kind in the state.

The new school will be an outgrowth of Aurora University’s Institute for Collaboration. Founded in 2003, the institute has had success with math and science classes designed collaboratively between school districts, and has served roughly 3600 students (and 160 teachers) since 2008, according to Executive Director Sherry Eagle.

Eagle, former superintendent with the West Aurora School District, said the institute has been hugely beneficial for both students and teachers, and the new partnership school will only expand its reach.

What is a partnership school?

Well, start with what it isn’t: it’s not a charter school. In fact, state legislators attempted to approve it as a charter school at first, but the measure failed under pressure from the teachers union. State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, sponsored the legislation that changed it from a charter to a partnership school, and it passed handily in April.

The difference, as outlined on Aurora University’s website, is that while a charter school is open to any and all students, this partnership school will admit students based on a series of criteria. Those include grades, of course, but also teacher and parent recommendations, and the student’s interest in math and science.

“Some children have strong interest in and passion for science and math, and this school will focus on the nurturing of that,” Eagle said.

Each of the four school districts will be able to place an equal number of students in the school, all between third and eighth grades. Teachers would be chosen based on their leadership qualities and their abilities in science and math, and would serve between two- and four-year terms in the new school.

Those teachers, Eagle said, will be able to collaborate with their peers and discover new ways of doing their jobs. And when their terms with the partnership school are over, they will return to their home districts and share what they’ve experienced.

“Everyone under the roof learns,” Eagle said.

And all this will happen without any additional cost to local taxpayers, she said. Aurora University plans to donate the land for the new school, and hopes to raise $15 million in donations and grants to construct it. The university has already received $350,000 in grants from the Dunham Fund.

The school’s operation will be funded by the four partner districts, but Eagle said sending a student to the partnership school would not cost the districts any more than educating that student themselves.

Aurora University is aiming for the 2014-2015 school year to unveil the new building. Eagle said although there has been talk of starting the partnership school earlier than that, using the AU grounds, nothing has been set in stone.

Once it’s up and running, Eagle hopes it will serve as a model for other areas hoping to create collaborative education systems.

The idea, she said, has “incredible potential."

Officials from Oswego, East Aurora and West Aurora school districts did not return calls for comment on this story.