This book reviews key aspects social, psychological, cultural, and contextual of the development of collaborative partnerships between elementary/secondary schools and institutions of higher education, and examines especially the nature of collaboration as part of the framework of professional development. After an introductory chapter, the first chapter focuses on the professional teaching and research communities, suggesting the need for collaboration to improve each other's practice. Chapter 2 examines the nature of working in "partnership" and the role of initial teacher education in formalizing partnership agreements. Chapter 3 addresses issues in the collaboration of schools and higher education institutions. In chapter 4 two case studies, a school-based curriculum development project in England and a school-based professional development project at a California high school illustrate successes and failures of collaborative ventures. Chapter 5 offers some theoretical perspectives on collaborative partnerships in the context of educational change, both internally and externally imposed. Finally, chapter 6 looks at the future of collaboration in suggesting that, despite trends toward greater prescription by external agencies and government legislation, there will also be increased opportunities for collaboration between institutions of higher education and schools. (Contains 175 references.) (CH)