Recognizing that lasting change is possible when organizations form a partnership, public policy increasingly drives active sharing of resources and mutual commitment to accountability and heightened productivity. Legislation that emphasizes aligning and improving the educational system; supporting the transition from high school to college and transfer between community college and university; and ensuring workforce, economic, and community development requires and reinforces the necessity for collaboration. This chapter defines collaboration and examines federal and state public policies to show how partnership is encouraged and how it can struggle. The chapter concludes with lessons learned from examining the complex intersection between policy and practice. (Contains 1 table.)