The ideal school is a safe school. In recent years, the ability of K-12 school districts to mitigate, prepare, protect, respond, and recover from emergencies has gained national attention as a wide variety of manmade and non-manmade disasters have impacted school systems in the United States. An increased emphasis has been placed on how schools can take steps to plan for a multitude of emergencies through planning in conjunction with community partners. Creating safe school environments is a complex task that involves a community approach. The purpose of this study was to examine best practices of community partnerships that enhance K-12 school emergency management in Wisconsin. Specifically, the purpose was to examine the themes that are thought to be present among successful school and community partnerships that focus on school safety. School district leadership that is willing to place a high priority on effective emergency management planning will research best practices of community partnerships that enhance overall school safety. Data was collected using a Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods approach. The quantitative portion of this study was conducted by administering a survey to the Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association (WSSCA) in order to determine best practices as it relates to working with community partners in the state. The qualitative portion of the study used a confirmatory focus group consisting of emergency management experts to confirm the results of the WSSCA survey. The results of the study led to the conclusion that school and community partnerships focused on effective emergency management planning would benefit by implementing practices that include a high degree of partnership involvement, decision-making outcomes, relationship role clarity and perceived effectiveness. Additionally, school districts and community agencies need to be willing to have top leaders serve as part of the community partnership. Commitment of top leadership from the different organizations represented in the school and community partnership is paramount to the success of these partnerships as they prepare, respond, and recovery from emergency situations. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]