Beyond the School Walls: A Case Study of Principal Leadership for School-Community Collaboration

This case study describes how one urban elementary school in a high-reform district and state has been able to develop strong connections with community businesses and organizations as part of its program of school, family, and community partnerships. The case study identifies four factors that allowed the school to build successful bridges to its community. These factors are (1) the school's commitment to learning; (2) the principal's support and vision for community involvement; (3) the school's receptivity and openness to community involvement; and (4) the school's willingness to engage in two-way communication with potential community partners about their level and kind of involvement. The concluding section of the paper discusses the implications of the study's findings for school, district, and state educational leaders.