There is a large body of research that supports the reality that school leaders make a significant contribution to the success of schools and the students in them. Additionally, there is strong agreement among and between researchers and state and national educational leadership associations that educational leadership preparation and development should be created and implemented within university/school partnerships. Although institutions engage in forming university/school partnerships for varied reasons, research on the extent to which these partnerships exist; their organizational structures and processes; their implementation and effectiveness; and elements that foster and hinder their success is limited. Perhaps more importantly, there is not a widely accepted, research-based model of such partnerships that practitioners and researchers can use to guide the development and assessment of these partnership endeavors and upon which they can conduct effective research. This book seeks to fill these gaps. It presents the purposes, processes, practices and outcomes of eleven university/school partnerships focused on school leadership preparation and/or development. Each chapter presents an overview of the partnership, elements that fostered and hindered partnership success, and lessons learned. The book concludes with a chapter that summarizes findings across all chapters and presents a school/university partnership model that can be used by those interested in forming, improving or researching similar partnership endeavors. There are no similar resources available in the field. Thus, this book makes an important contribution to the literature and to the world of practice and research. Praise for Partnerships for Leadership Preparation and Development: Facilitators, Barriers and Models for Change: "Kochan, Reames and Griggs bring together the latest research and eleven case examples of university-practice partnerships for school leadership preparation and development. The volume provides keen insights into practices that can make or break an effective partnership, making it a valuable resource for those seeking to develop new partnerships, to enhance existing ones, and to engage in research on this topic. For those in the throes of redesign or leadership program improvement, it is an essential read." Michelle D. Young, Professor and Dean, Loyola Marymount University UCEA Executive Director Emeritus "Partnerships for Leadership Preparation and Development is destined to become an indispensable “go-to” resource for educators who are contemplating or already engaged in school-university partnerships. Rich details are provided about a variety of partnerships operating for aspiring and practicing schools administrators, with special attention to preparing and developing underserved populations for educational leadership roles. The book not only captures the realities of these collaborative efforts, but also provides a roadmap for anticipating the important relational, organizational, and operational processes required for partnership success." Bruce Barnett, Professor Educational Leadership and Policy Studies University of Texas at San Antonio

THIS IS A UNIQUE BOOK. IF YOU CARE ABOUT SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLING AND THE WAY IN WHICH PARTNERSHIPS MAY HELP TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THEM AND THE INSTITUTIONS THAT PARTNER WITH THEM, YOU SHOULD READ IT! School partnerships have a long history in the United States. The inception of public schooling was a type of partnership with the community. The concept of local school boards and local control was integral to the establishment of schools and the idea that public education was a public good has deep roots in the country. Partnerships denote relationships which are mutually beneficial to the parties involved and which result in joint benefits for those who create and engage in them. The partnerships presented in this book provide ample evidence of the value and benefits of these arrangements. The book contains stories and research about school partnerships from a variety of groups and perspectives, which are focused upon multiple issues within educational institutions and communities within the United States. The final chapter, presents an analysis across all the partnerships to identify the elements that fostered and hindered their success and the primary lessons learned. This analysis should provide meaningful information for those engaged in developing and operating similar partnerships or those involved in conducting research on or about them. Although the cases presented in this book occur within the United States, the findings may also have relevance for similar initiatives in other countries. Praise for Creating School Partnerships that Work: A Guide for Practice and Research: Kudos to Dana Griggs and Frances Kochan for compiling the rich accountings of eight different school partnerships all in one place. Readers will learn a great deal from both the individual accountings of a broad array of partnerships as well as the collective analysis of the partnerships and lessons learned across them. Creating School Partnerships that Work:A Guide for Research and Practice is a must-read book for anyone who ever has been, is, or desires to be involved in any type of school partnership. Nancy Fichtman Dana, Professor, School of Teaching and Learning University of Florida, Gainesville Creating School Partnerships that Work: A Guide for Research and Practice is a must read for scholars, researchers, practitioners, and community members seeking to identify elements of successful school partnerships that foster students' academic and personal successes. This edited volume shares stakeholders' perspectives on multi-dimensional school partnerships, which have successfully led to sustained collaborations across diverse purposes that are mutually beneficial for all groups. The usefulness of the content analysis presented in the final chapter, which identifies elements both fostering and hindering partnerships with recommendations, cannot be overstated. Mary Barbara Trube, Professor Emerita, Ohio University-Chillicothe Contributing Faculty & Dissertation Mentor, Walden University Early Childhood Education Adjunct Faculty, Florida SouthWestern State College Mentor & Early Childhood Consultant, ILEAD Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

This book identifies multiple University programs where partnerships create ongoing collaborative activities that sets the stage for leadership development, program expansion and growth, and utilization of partnerships that support student, community and University initiatives. University programs that encourage growth through community partnerships in education, criminal justice, human services, and business programs where the focus on internships, meeting practitioner needs and developing content knowledge and skills in real situations supports all learning and teaching outcomes. Student enrollment increases when programs embed situational expectations in preparation programs of study. The Universities benefit from collaborative partnerships, as the work enables members of the University and organization to build capacity through shared activities. Increased student enrollment, increased graduation rates, and increased interest of participants helps facilitate growth and expansion. Specific focus on k-12 schools and University partnerships is highlighted in this book. Activities that are supported by research and give practitioners the ability to work with Universities in meeting practitioner needs are discussed as models for replication.

Features lessons learned about the successful implementation of leadership program preparation and development programs that are grant-funded by the United States Department of Education through the School Leadership Program.

Delivering equity for PK-12 learners is an essential aim for educational leadership preparation programs. This book serves as a resource for equity-focused design and redesign thorough innovation, improvement and impact. Based on direct experience while also drawing from innovative exemplars, and unpacking a decade of program improvement practice, this book explores how to foster partnerships and pipelines, recruit and select candidates, map the curriculum, develop powerful learning experiences, create field experiences, design program evaluation, and support faculty learning. Chapters open with a vignette that presents scenarios in which many faculty members find themselves, particularly when programs are in need of improvement. Drawing on years of experience facilitating redesign, the authors offer both processes and resources to assist faculty, including diagnostic tools, sample agendas, templates, guiding questions, and suggested protocols. Whether facing new accreditation requirements, state program approval changes, institutional redesign challenges or as part of a grant funded redesign, this book is a critical resource for educational leadership faculty and program coordinators looking to garner the appropriate resources, ask the right questions, and follow reliable processes in program design and continuous improvement toward equity. Chapter resources and templates available for download online at https://www.routledge.com/9780367673543 on the tab that is entitled "Support Material." Please also join Redesign.Improve.Innovate—an online forum focused on preparation and practice improvement found here: www.RedesignImproveInnovate.org.

Features lessons learned about the successful implementation of leadership program preparation and development programs that are grant-funded by the United States Department of Education through the School Leadership Program.

"Makes a distinct contribution to the field and will be a very useful resource for universities and school districts." —Susan Villani, Senior Program/Research Associate, Learning Innovations Author, Mentoring and Induction Programs That Support New Principals "Will improve the training and practice of future school administrators and the learning of students across the country." —Jim Lentz, Superintendent, Augusta Public Schools, KS Blend theory with real-world practices to develop and sustain effective leadership! University preparation programs for educational leaders are continually criticized for lack of connectedness to the real world, while school and district leaders face mounting pressure to adopt the latest research-based best practices. Closing the Leadership Gap demonstrates what happens when universities and districts work together to shape and support superior leadership that harnesses the qualities of excellence in both practice and research. The authors, experts in school-university partnerships for leadership development, help close the gap between academic training and day-to-day issues with a program that incorporates collaborative partnerships between university faculty and inservice administrators. Filled with lessons learned, school leader voices, and reflections throughout, this book illustrates how to cultivate and sustain ethical, effective leadership. Readers will find: Field-tested tools, templates, and forms Research-based strategies to apply in any leadership development endeavor Performance assessment and documentation methods This resource is ideal for staff developers, leadership coaches, university preparation programs, and prospective or practicing administrators committed to a strong leadership preparation curriculum that inspires leaders to remain in education and have a lasting, positive impact upon student achievement.