In his first inaugural speech, President Obama declared that "our schools fail too many" and an essential component of laying "a new foundation for growth" will be "to transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age." Concerns about our nation's position in the global education race have led to a focus on…

Urban schools are plagued with multiple issues that contribute to their low graduation rate. University of Louisville took a step forward by partnering with the school district to transform five schools into high performing schools. Building on the strengths of these schools, a collaborative partnership was developed that involved the entire…

The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) has undertaken a commitment to establish a culture of environmental sustainability. With two new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings on site, a green building curriculum has been developed. This multidimensional curriculum involves university faculty, students, K-12…

This article describes efforts of the Greater Houston P-16+ Council (GHPC) to find effective ways to promote student participation and success across the P-16 continuum, from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education and work related training.

Under the leadership of the University of Cincinnati, a unique, systemic collaboration of educational, business, nonprofit, civic and philanthropic organizations from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky is addressing the challenges facing urban children and youth. Called Strive, it seeks to create a seamless educational pipeline beginning at birth,…

This article addresses the checkered history of school-college reform initiatives with regard to increasing college access among low-income youth. It considers what is missing in the reform movement and why policymakers and funders have grown impatient. Focusing on what is possible, this article suggests what is needed, recommending three…

"No Child Left Behind" legislation requiring states to publicize annual test scores has heightened the nation's awareness of large academic achievement disparities among America's students. Statistics reveal disproportionately low college admission rates among African American and Latino students. The nation cannot afford to face the future with…

During the past decade, leaders of university engagement have strived to create reciprocal relationships between their campuses and the external partners they serve. Relying on a knowledge flow theoretical framework, this article examines the concept of university engagement in the context of school-university partnerships. Challenges and…

The burgeoning field of Out-of-School Time provides academic and social services to K-12 students during the time that they are not in school. Hundreds of service providers offer a range of programs that target various student populations. Many tools exist to measure program performance, but no uniform evaluation methods exist to inform funders…

The one aspect of education that impacts all levels and persons involved is that of governance. Governance is defined as the setting of policies. More specifically, it occurs when one is involved in the establishing or changing of operating policies, i.e., rules by which institutions make decisions. Internally, governance includes local boards of…