Uncovering Promising Practices in School/University Partnerships

Improving school performance is a primary goal of educational systems not only in the United States but around the world. Partnerships between K-12 grade schools and colleges and universities not only provide benefits to the institutes of higher education that engage in them but assist K-12 schools in three main ways: (1) enriching curriculum offerings, (2) broadening teaching expertise, and (3) helping at-risk students stay in school. Because of their autonomy and greater likelihood to engage in innovation, this book used charter schools to investigate how school/university partnerships functioned in each of the three areas listed above and the results depict both quantitative and qualitative benefits. This book also sheds light on not only the benefits partnerships can provide schools, but what components are needed to make a partnership successful. In addition, the obstacles that can threaten a partnership are examined so they can be avoided. Professors, administrators, and teachers in both public and private K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities can benefit from this book to create and enhance new partnerships to address a large range of pressing educational needs.