Johnson and Rakestraw describe the Winthrop University-School Partnership Network (WUSP) as a dynamic, diverse, and growing group of participants from nine school districts, thirty schools, multiple university programs, and community organizations. As a Network, they are working to emulate John Goodlad's (1984) vision "in order to…

This article reports on research in the Netherlands to determine the distinctive characteristics of powerful workplace learning environments within primary teacher education. Nationally and internationally, educational competence- based models and so-called workplace learning environments are widely seen as promising alternatives in professional…

Campus Mentors is a unique new partnership between a school district and a local university created to benefit both pre-service teachers and students at risk. The model is an on-campus alternative school targeting youth at risk. It is effective, cost-efficient, and mutually beneficial. Data collected over three years indicate a positive impact on…

Preparing in-service and pre-service teachers to effectively work with culturally diverse students is an ongoing challenge for schools and universities alike. This article reports on a University-Professional Development School (PDS) initiative designed to enhance an awareness of culturally responsive pedagogy. This article describes a yearlong…

The College of Education at Rowan University has held a long and continuing commitment to the tenets of the Professional Development School (PDS) movement. Two schools in the Rowan's network--Holly Glen Elementary and Edward R. Johnstone Elementary Schools--have a long history of exceptional commitment to continuous growth by all P-12 faculty…

In this article we detail ongoing work designed to understand and improve our practice and that of the future teachers with whom we work. This work centers on helping elementary teacher candidates learn to implement instruction that supports student learning. We have developed and implemented a model--the "Supported, Collaborative Teaching…

This article reports the research findings of a qualitative study that employs case study research methods to examine a newly-formed university-district-teacher union partnership. Examination of the question ''How do we better prepare teachers'' led to the formation of a university-district-association (teacher union)…

An expert panel including representatives from schools/districts, teacher education, and professional education associations was convened by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) to make recommendations regarding clinical preparation in teacher education. This article presents an analysis of how the ten design…

The vision of this large, well-established partnership is to collaboratively improve the College of Education's teacher preparation program while simultaneously reforming K-12 education for all students and educators within the partnership. This article describes this vision and the comprehensive mission of the intellectual engagement and…

The dominant PDS models described in research literature are all based upon the pairing of traditional, college-based teacher education programs with traditional public schools. Though these PDS models have proven very successful in such contexts, there is significant question as to whether they can be successful when comprised of nontraditional…

Research emphasizes the effectiveness of professional development schools in preparing prospective teachers to successfully meet the needs of students. Effective school-university partnerships have a positive impact on student learning and on the stakeholders involved. Recounting the journey of the University of Mississippi PDS partnerships…

This study examined the influence of a semester-long seminar on student teachers' perceptions of their preparedness for student teaching. Eighteen pre-service teachers in elementary (grades K-6) and middle grades (grades 6-8) participated in the seminar. Seventeen pre-service teachers from the same programs were used as a matched comparison group.…

This article examines the mutuality of interests between partners in a professional development school (PDS), with an emphasis on promoting inclusive classrooms and integrating special education students into the general education continuum. It highlights how delivery models that hinder inclusive practices stunt the growth of PDS partnerships. It…

This article introduces the process of inquiry-oriented mentoring as an appropriate tool for developing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of mentors who work with prospective teachers within the professional development school. The process shows promise as a tool for capturing the knowledge of what constitutes powerful mentoring practices, by…

School-university partnerships are promising collaborations for better preparing qualified and competent teachers for the realities of today's diverse American classrooms. Research has been conducted on many aspects of partnerships, but few studies have focused on partnered student teaching placements. In this article, a professor and five of her…