"A must read for state policy makers. Efforts to strengthen vital connections between K-12 and higher education have been sorely neglected these past years as we've focused virtually all of our energy on improving the public schools. Maeroff, Callan, and Usdan offer us a means to think about these relationships. More importantly, they offer us valuable lessons and insights from real people who have struggled to bridge this gap."
–Ted Sanders, President, Education Commission of the States

With support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, Missouri, editors Gene I. Maeroff, Patrick M. Callan, and Michael D. Usdan embarked on a significant quest. They commissioned twelve journalists from prominent newspapers to explore the impact, importance, and truth about collaborations between institutions of higher learning and K-12 schools. Their findings are presented in this comprehensive volume.

What makes this book unique from others on the topic is that it is the first to offer such a collective body of work. This assemblage of timely information has implications for policy makers in schools and colleges everywhere. In addition, the editors offer a useful organizational framework focused on collaborations involving the following five major themes:

• Standards
• Equity
• Teaching
• Governance
• Community-building

Covering such topics as what makes a collaboration work, how to deal with flaws, and lessons learned, this book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the challenges, innovations, and strategies that help define school and college partnerships.

Audience: Courses in policy, higher education, educational administration, teachers and teacher educators, administrators, and public officials.