Summary of reform: Partnerships vary but tend to involve direct services to students. Over 51% of the partnerships surveyed said this was their primary goal. Direct services include, early identification and intervention programs and bringing K-12 students to college and university campuses were most often reported. A second major aspect of these partnerships is improvement of K-12 teachers and admnistrators through development initiatives. Articulation and curriculum was reported as the primary purpose in only about 10% of the partnerships. 8% suggested school restructuring, facilities, or resource sharing was the primary purpose. The two primary foci of these programs was the needs of under represented students and professional development of teachers and admnistrators. About 10% reported student academic enrichment programs. Range of foci included, enrichment, mentoring/tutoring, career exploration, courses, professional development, teacher centers, tech prep, school to college to business programs. Content or subject areas for reform were mathematics (18%); science (16%) and writing (16%). Within the sciences, NSF has been providing support and funding for school college partnerships. Goals of their programs include mostly professional development of teachers through innovative instruction, valuing diversity, and assessment. One of the largest growth areas is for under represented students and these programs tend to concentrate in the following areas: basic study skills, parental/community involvement, critical thinking, leadership, financial aid and cultural pluralism.
Most of the partnerships are grass-roots, local level efforts that place school professionals into new and very different working relationships with their colleagues at colleges and universities. Some are based in colleges and schools of education while others involve other disciplines. Partnerships cross institutional type involving all sectors of higher education but master's degree-granting institutions, community colleges and research universities had the most involvement. 66% of those surveyed in 1989 were public and 34% were private. In terms of partners at the K-12 level, 60% are high school, 33% middle and 26% elementary (number exceeds 100% because partnerships reported serving more than one grade level in this category). More partnerships are in urban areas where there tends to be more need.
These programs are developing a sense of a single educational systems, interdependence, and shared mission.
Web Site:
Types of institutions: Research university
Duration: Ten years
Source list of institutions: AAHE has list of 2,300
partnerships
Contact for further information: Nevin Brown, AAHE, Ext. 33
Outcomes: Improved retention and achievement; increased enrollments in higher education of under represented students; curricular cohesion
Process: Involve high school students in activities that expose them to the college environment or information about college; also involves colleges becoming more aware of curriculum, pedagogy, and technology, etc. at secondary level
K-12 parallel:
Origination of reform: association or national level
Support: government grant - NSF
Linking Characteristic 1: student centered
Linking Characteristic 2: linking or integrating
Linking Characteristic 3: collaboration
Linking Characteristic 4:
Assessment? No
Resistances: Time and resources. There is also a belief that colleges should uphold standards and that k-12 should respond to higher education rather than vice versa.
Evolution/History: Higher education has a long history of involvement in K-12. For example, in the 1860's in Michigan, the University of Michigan worked with high schools to standardize and improve their curriculum to prepare students for college. These type of relationships have been stronger and weaker over the history of higher education. Currently there is a growth in these relationships. A survey in 1986 revealed 750 partnerships, a 1989 survey found 1,286, and the 1995 survey found over 2,300. More than 50% of these formed since 1990, over 75% since 1985. This recent involvement is attributed with the publishing of "A Nation at Risk."
Major sources:
Haycock, Kati Perry. (1990.) Partnerships for America's Children. AAHE Bulletin, September 1990, 12-14.