When school leaders think of reform, their first thought is rarely "the arts," but perhaps they've been missing a vehicle that can inspire the adoption of best practices on a schoolwide basis. School leaders across Georgia are using the arts in the core reform areas that were recommended in "Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for High…

Educators have an imperative to help students not only get into college but also flourish when they arrive. The evidence is clear that many students are not prepared. Schools can and must do better than pretty good, and highly qualified school librarians, working in concert with all members of the learning community, can help ensure that students…

This article describes Oakwood City School District's College Connection Study, which is now in its eighth year. The purpose of the study is to help the educators in the district learn how to effectively prepare students for success in the colleges of their choice. Teachers, administrators, and other staff members travel to colleges to conduct…

This article discusses how a university-school district partnership improves the quality of teacher candidates and the knowledge and skills of high school graduates. Several years ago, the author was having lunch with Lynne Clark, the dean of professional studies at Western Connecticut State University, when Clark complained that too many recent…

The corporate internship program is a cornerstone of the education that students receive at San Miguel High School in Tucson, Arizona. Four students share one job, so each student works for a corporate partner outside of the school every fourth day. The money they earn is used to help defray the cost of their education, and the experience is…

The mission of San Diego Met High School is to prepare students for college and the workforce through active learning, academic rigor, and community involvement in a small school setting. Because personalization is a key component of the school culture, advisories of 20-25 students work with the same teachers for all four years. Advisers, parents,…

Data-driven decision-making, targeted staff development, collaborative leadership, and the sheer will of committed staff members have launched Wheaton High School on a promising trajectory. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland, a predominately affluent area that has more than 20 high schools, Wheaton has always received attention, but…

In 1995, after years of conflict between Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and its adjacent neighborhood, the university traded "barriers for partnership and collaboration" and became part of the University Park Neighborhood Restoration Partnership (UPP). UPP was established primarily to stabilize the community by…

During the last two decades, the number of K-12 school partnerships with businesses, communities, and universities has expanded rapidly. Schools have established successful collaborative partnerships with private enterprises to provide technology to families (Cirone, 2001), with universities to develop new teachers (Fisher, Frey, & Williams,…

"Ohana" is the Hawaiian word for family. According to Hawaiian beliefs and values, every individual is expected to know and understand what it means to be a contributing member of the community. Everyone has a duty to use his or her talents and abilities to the benefit of the entire Ohana. Ohana is at the core of life at James Campbell…