Professional development schools (PDSs) were developed to provide a new model for teacher education that enables graduate students to have meaningful classroom experiences while they earn their degrees. This digest describes some of the ways that PDSs can improve the school experiences of urban students. It also describes some of the pitfalls of PDSs. In the area of general school support, a PDS has the advantage of the presence of additional personnel who can perform many useful functions. The professional development the university professors offer inservice teachers and the integration of organized service programs in PDSs also benefit schools. One possible challenge is that improving education in the participating school may not be the primary goal of the university partner, given its mandate to educate its own students. An important aspect of the PDS model is the action research that can enhance instructional strategies. Another advantage of a PDS is the infusion of a multicultural perspective into learning. The parent and community involvement that are planned for in a PDS become important elements in school improvement. The information in this digest is geared to guiding schools that are considering a PDS partnership.(Contains 11 references.) (SLD)