This paper discusses an approach to educational improvement through collaboration between schools and universities. It develops the concept of symbiosis between unlike institutions in which each recognizes need for the other in seeking to fulfill its self-interest. The first section defines the essential characteristics of successful renewal: that workers at all levels must have optimal opportunities to combine their expertise, and that there must be a continuous infusion of both relevant knowledge and alternative ideas for practice stemming from inquiry into the enterprise. Accordingly, the first section reviews past symbiotic efforts at educational reform that have collectively contributed insights to a partnership strategy. Based on these insights, the essentials of school-university partnerships are defined: (1) complementary dissimilarity among the partners; (2) overlapping self-interests and the recognition of such by all partners; and (3) commitment among all partners to the belief that the potential gains in satisfying self-interest are worth the efforts and inevitable sacrifices of close collaboration. The last part of the paper describes the principles, mission, goals, and structure of the National Network for Educational Renewal, which consists of 14 partnerships in different states. (TE)