The State Role in Jump-Starting School University Collaboration: A Case Study

This article describes and analyzes an ambitious project in which a state department of education instigated, facilitated and, in effect, "jump-started" the formation of professional development school partnerships between middle schools and teacher preparation institutions. After a brief case summary, the article explores the options available to a state department of education wishing to promote school/university collaboration. It concludes by drawing on the literature on inter organizational relations to discuss how the success or failure of such an endeavor might be assessed.