THIS IS A UNIQUE BOOK. IF YOU CARE ABOUT SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLING AND THE
WAY IN WHICH PARTNERSHIPS MAY HELP TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEM AND
THE INSTITUTIONS THAT PARTNER WITH THEM, YOU SHOULD READ IT! School
partnerships have a long history in the United States. The inception of
public schooling was a type of partnership with the community. The
concept of local school boards and local control was integral to the
establishment of schools and the idea that public education was a public
good has deep roots in the country. Partnerships denote relationships
which are mutually beneficial to the parties involved and which result
in joint benefits for those who create and engage in them. The
partnerships presented in this book provide ample evidence of the value
and benefits of these arrangements.
The book contains stories and research about school partnerships from a
variety of groups and perspectives, which are focused upon multiple
issues within educational institutions and communities within the United
States. The final chapter, presents an analysis across all the
partnerships to identify the elements that fostered and hindered their
success and the primary lessons learned. This analysis should provide
meaningful information for those engaged in developing and operating
similar partnerships or those involved in conducting research on or
about them. Although the cases presented in this book occur within the
United States, the findings may also have relevance for similar
initiatives in other countries.
