The Ways to Improve Schools and Education (WISE) Project sought to enhance school productivity by more effective use of community resources. WISE worked with three sites: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; and Oklahoma City, in 1983-84. In 1985, three more sites were added: Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; and New Orleans, Louisiana. At each site a Liaison Team (LT) was organized consisting of representatives from the school district, a collaborating business or chamber of commerce, an institution of higher education; the state education agency, and the Southwest Educational Laboratory. Project WISE accomplished the following: (1) assisted with the establishment and implementation of collaborative activities at the six sites; (2) interacted with other partnerships in the United States; (3) reviewed pertinent literature; (4) shared information among its sites; and (5) conducted working conferences of its LTs. Project WISE and its LTs produced Models and Guidelines for Partnerships in Education. These operational Models and Guidelines are experience-based, research-based, and operational in translating research into practice. (JD)