Discusses the importance of educators' partnerships with colleagues, including the role of a shared sense of mission in the work environment. Considers the importance of providing highest quality services for children and their families and a healthy and supportive work environment for adults. Suggests that practitioners and parents need to…

Argues that if discipline-based music education is to be successful, change initiatives must take place at all levels of instruction. Discusses the collaborative efforts necessary to accomplish this. These include coordinated efforts among state departments of education, higher education and K-12, performing arts centers, teacher and professional…

Reports employers' concern that today's graduates are unprepared for the workplace. Argues that employers are major customers of the educational system; however, few school districts have meaningful measures of graduate performance. Discusses two partnership examples in which schools and businesses cooperate to improve education. Presents…

Describes a partnership between Vermont's Saint Michael's College and Massachusetts' Holyoke High School to increase student retention. Describes advising provided by university faculty to the high school students and a summer institute to introduce students to college life. Focuses on the use of the Internet in the project. (AJL)

Explored the progress of National Network for Educational Reform-affiliated institutions regarding the work, support, and recognition of university faculty in partner professional development schools. Overall, the amount and nature of faculty work varied considerably across institutions. Provision of formal, systematized teaching load credit or…

A program developed in Ohio partners schools and higher education institutions to increase college attendance in Appalachia. Field trips to a variety of work places and postsecondary institutions acquaint students with career and college options. As graduation approaches, schools counsel parents on financial aid. The program has increased college…

A summer health careers program in rural North Carolina educates and recruits high school students into health professions. Collaboration between an Area Health Education Center, a local hospital, and schools makes the program successful. A week of classroom presentations is followed by up to 6 weeks of job shadowing. Seventy percent of the 160…

Considers what the future of education could look like. Highlights include electronic learning and distance education scenarios; new educational models with no traditional classrooms; community and business involvement; instructional design and assessment practices; higher-order skills; educational research; professional development; technology…

This article describes challenges and benefits related to assessment, intervention design, and implementation that are inherent in parent-professional collaboration for positive behavior support. An example is provided of a partnership that resulted in the provision of visual supports to a child (age 4) with autism with severe problem behaviors.…

This article addresses ways school board members can work to engage the community in school-improvement efforts. Some suggestions: Commit your time and talents; demand clarity and simplicity; listen; use the grapevine; work with the media; and be honest. Includes an extensive list of recommendations within a "community relations checklist." (WFA)

Three South Carolina school districts and a university formed a partnership to train, mentor, and support 24 special education teacher leaders as they developed and practiced new leadership skills. The article describes the selection and training of teachers, reviewing the first year's activities and presenting observations from program…

Discussion of how academic researchers communicate their results to external constituents focuses on an exploratory analysis of conversations between university researchers investigating hazardous waste remediation and outside consultants. Highlights include communicating and perceiving innovation attributes; technology transfer; diffusion of…

A family-focused approach to schools and community service requires acknowledging the central role families play in children's well-being, shifting the roles of service institutions to reflect this, and creating community supports that assist families. Implementing this approach requires time for understanding and partnership. (SLD)

Profiles individual projects in six school districts across the country participating in the School-Community Connection initiative funded by the Institute for Responsive Education. These projects focus on school improvement through partnerships among schools, parents, and the community. Rural and urban elementary and secondary schools are…

Organizing a committed team to foster effective school-community partnerships is discussed, focusing on the critical role of leadership. Collaborative leadership, comprised of diverse members and different perspectives, is most successful. A list of qualities and skills that are necessary for collaborative leaders is provided. (LAJ)