A model for university/early childhood education partnerships

Abstract

A model for university/early childhood partnerships located in the community was designed based on previous and present characteristics of university/school teaching centers and professional development schools. The long-range goals of this collaborative model were to raise the quality of future preschool and child care teachers, to enhance university early childhood teacher education programs, and to strengthen child care and preschool programs. The present case study focused on the first step of developing a viable model for sustained rather than temporary partnerships. Formal collaborative roles supported by higher level administrative commitment were found to be necessary to overcome differences in goals and values. Overcoming such institutional differences may be easier to accomplish in smaller early childhood programs. Future early childhood partnerships need to be developed and evaluated to determine the long-term impact of this partnership model on enhancing early childhood programs and on producing better teachers.