| Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of Illinois superintendents regarding their district's involvement in school partnerships with businesses and organizations in the community and to determine if their perceptions were at all influenced by the types of K-12 school districts they serve. This study examined the perceptions of superintendents of K-12 schools in the state. The superintendents served as leaders of elementary districts (K-8), high school districts (9-12), and unit districts (K-12). The sample population for the study was 300 superintendents who responded out of the 894 who were surveyed. A Likert scale questionnaire gauged the perceptions of superintendents. The Likert scale consisted of 8 statements about partnerships benefit to different areas of school district operation, including partnerships benefit to instruction, teachers, administration, learning, community, businesses/organizations, enhancing taxpayer support, and whether partnerships interfere with tax referendums. Additionally, the instrument sought qualitative responses to the recommendations that superintendents would give to those interested in partnerships and the types of partnerships they currently were engaged in. The chi-square test was used at the 0.05 level to establish statistical significance. This study found no statistically significant differences in superintendents' perceptions of partnerships and the type of school district they served, with the exception of the rejection of the hypothesis regarding district size (as measured by community population) and the enhancement of taxpayer support. In this area superintendents showed statistically significant differences in responses. In terms of qualitative responses the superintendents gave recommendations that consisted of 4 related themes; (1) Involve stakeholders, (2) identify roles and framework for partnership, (3) set goals, (4) make the partnerships student/learner centered. The types of partnerships varied but most fell into the category of civic/community partnerships and partnerships with parent groups. Universities, corporations, and foundations were also very high in the superintendent responses. Finally the 104 superintendents, who responded that they had no partnerships, identified many reasons for a lack of partnerships. Most of their reasons fell into the category of location. The superintendents feel that partnerships were not viable and in some cases possible because they were too small, rural, and/or lacked the businesses or organizations to partner within the community.
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