The following study sought to add to the body of literature on effective charter school models and the role universities play in urban school reform by closely examining one urban elementary university charter school partnership through the eyes of its key participants and in relation to the unique political and social contexts in which it was created and exists. A case study approach was used to describe the history, start up and mission of the school and to illustrate the relationship that has been built between the school and the university. The researcher looked specifically at the conditions, structures and dynamics that created and maintained this unique partnership. A grounded theory approach was used to examine the data and develop emerging themes. The researcher utilized interviews with a variety of key constituents, including university and charter school faculty and administration. Observations of the school setting and documentation including the Charter Annual Report and news articles supported the interview data. The findings of this study revealed a complex relationship between the conditions, structures and dynamics of the organization, and a rich story was illustrated through the eyes of those who are most integral to the partnerships implementation. Finally, through the emerging themes the data revealed guiding principles that would be useful to other universities considering this endeavor. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]