Collaborations between urban schools and businesses, community agencies, cultural institutions, and universities have become a popular way to improve public education. Motives for collaborating include the following: (1) schools with a largely disadvantaged population need powerful, vocal support groups; (2) businesses need a highly educated and skilled workforce; (3) health and social service agencies need to connect with clients; (4) arts and cultural institutions need to widen their audiences; and (5) universities and colleges need students with appropriate skills and knowledge demanded by post-secondary education. Collaboratives can be comprised of entire educational systems or single-schools. Individual organizations or coalitions can represent the community side of the collaboration. Many are student-focused. The Boston Compact and the Rochester Education Initiative are examples of multi-institutional collaboration with an entire district. Umbrella organizations have also developed to advocate, initiate, coordinate, direct, and evaluate collaboratives. Principles of successful collaboratives include the following: (1) commitment; (2) egalitarian decision-making; (3) clarity about roles; (4) clarity and flexibility about methods and goals; and (5) ability to bridge institutional cultures. Problems encountered in collaboration include accountability, funding, and equitable distribution of resources. A number of serious policy questions require further research. A list of 49 references is appended. (FMW)