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,…

With the 1984 publication of "A Nation at Risk" the K-12 school reform movement was launched. The report predicted that, if the United States was to maintain its global economic leadership, a rigorous curriculum in primary and secondary schools would be necessary to prepare students for a productive college academic experience. Nearly 22 years…

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…

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…

Identifies long-standing and pervasive issues related to the preparation of teachers, especially for high-poverty urban schools. Simplistic views of teachers and teacher education prevail, and a second constraining factor is the lack of understanding of the fundamental relationship between the scope and nature of teacher preparation and the…

Describes an experiment in K-16 collaboration that is taking place on the Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin. Public school "teachers-in-residence" undertake a 2-year stint at a university program dedicated to mainstreaming multiculturalism in undergraduate education and help create courses for future urban educators. (SLD)

Describes partnership efforts between the Richmond Public Schools, Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University that have focused on the needs of urban schools. Describes challenges that remain with regard to preparing teachers, mentoring beginning teachers, and retaining experienced teachers. (SLD)

Describes the partnerships developed by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis with public schools and community organizations to improve urban student performance through teacher education and full-service schools (schools that offer a wrap-around of services to eliminate or minimize socioeconomic or health-related barriers to…

Examined education-community partnerships from the viewpoint of the community partners. Analyses based on three education-community partnerships, two successful and one failed, show the importance of understanding motivations and expectations. Describes lessons learned through such partnerships. (SLD)

Describes the origin and evolution of the P-16 movement in education, which is based on the premise that all education, from preschool through college, ought to function as an integrated system. Describes some of the issues likely to affect the movement and the progress of urban universities over the next few years. (SLD)

Describes the Urban Teachers' Corps, a program of the Great City Universities coalition, that focuses on improving the academic performance of students in school districts that partner with a university through enhanced educator preparation and professional development. (SLD)

This introduction provides a summary of the various articles presented in this issue that pertain to current issues and lessons learned from service learning practices. This article also addresses many of the criticisms of service learning. This article also suggests further areas of research that need to be addressed. (SWM)

Describes changes in the relationship among four Chicago-area colleges of education and the Chicago Public Schools during 1972 to 1997. The colleges addressed changes in the schools with programs of study and research. Private foundation funding and strong leadership assisted efforts, while certain institutional characteristics and an…

Missouri's diverse autonomous education system has embarked on a collaborative journey stimulated by average student performance, need for better college preparation, and concerns for a better-prepared workforce. Leaders from education, business, and government are collectively emphasizing a seamless educational system. Mathematics is the focus of…