The George Washington University's Urban Initiative Professional Development School (UI-PDS) partnership used interviews, surveys, focus groups, and observations to research its effectiveness in preparing urban educators. The research conducted with UI-PDS preservice teachers and first year graduates, indicates they were well equipped to meet the…

Interviewed program coordinators from 57 urban university-school district collaborative efforts to determine their characteristics and effectiveness. Results indicated that collaborations were typically longstanding, varied in type, serving large numbers of city students, satisfying to university partners, and perceived as generally achieving…

The Professional Development School (PDS) concept was developed by the Holmes Group (now known as the Holmes Partnership) in response to a national call for educational reform. More recent reform agendas question the effectiveness of the PDS model. This article examines the changes that are occurring in the Temple University PDS in Philadelphia,…

Investigated essential elements required to establish and maintain successful school-university partnerships as reported by principals, teachers, and university coordinators involved in both voluntary and mandated partnerships. Results identified five factors representing different perspectives on key elements for successful partnerships, with…

Describes the inception and progress of a university-public school collaboration in which preservice teachers, working toward endorsement in teaching English to speakers of other languages, volunteer to teach English as a second language students, providing academic support, homework help, language practice, and comprehensive explanations for…

The shortage of competent, caring professionals who see themselves as urban educators has long been recognized as a problem that teacher preparation programs need to address. The authors argue that situating an entire elementary teacher education program in an urban school setting and engaging candidates in ongoing conversations about difficult…

Investigated the effects of student teaching in urban, suburban, and rural settings on beginning teachers' attitudes about success, multiculturalism, and interactions with diverse parents. Noted the effect of a program for facilitating school-home relationships and improving urban education. Teachers who student taught in urban settings perceived…

Describes the first year of a collaboration between faculty in an urban elementary school and university faculty in a nearby college of education. Partnership efforts to enhance the learning of mathematics and science by students while providing quality field experience for preservice teachers are discussed. (SLD)