School-university Partnerships Research Articles

Supporting PK-12 continuous school improvement efforts in a school–university partnership network

PurposeThis paper will discuss one university’s efforts to initiate a process to better support PK-12 continuous school improvement goals for all 13 schools in their PDS network as a way to broaden the university’s mission and respond more formally to the individual school communities with which they partner.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is conceptual in that it presents an innovative idea to stimulate discussion, generate new ideas and advance thinking about cross-institutional collaboration between universities and professional development schools.FindingsThe paper provides insights and ideas for bringing about change and growth in a seasoned PDS partnership network by connecting PK-12 continuous school improvement efforts to PDS partnership work.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an identified need to study how seasoned partnerships can participate in simultaneous renewal by offering ideas that school–university partnership leaders can build upon as they make efforts to participate in the process of growth and change.

The Influence of a University-School Partnership on Pre-service Teachers’ Perceived Preparedness and Views on Teaching and Learning S.T.E.M

The Influence of a University-School Partnership on Pre-service Teachers’ Perceived Preparedness and Views on Teaching and Learning S.T.E.M

Creating communicative learning spaces in initial teacher education (ITE) with observation-grounded co-mentoring practices

ABSTRACT ITE has been criticised for being disconnected, with different languages being spoken in the two learning arenas of campus and schools. Bringing people together, such as through formal university-school partnerships, is not enough to open up communicative learning spaces – sites of collaborative learning that are democratic, safe and supportive. Practicum is recognised as a capstone experience in teacher education in which the mentor’s role is crucial. However, there are significant variations in the types and quality of mentoring and only some supportive frameworks. This paper investigates what arrangements are needed to enable mentoring practices as communicative learning spaces. An intervention was designed that structured conversations between student teachers, school-based mentor teachers and university-based teacher educators around an observation-grounded mentoring framework (OMF). Data was gathered from completed worksheets, reflection logs, and interviews and analysed through the lens of practice architectures. We explore issues of knowledge and power in the facilitation of learning when university-based teacher educators visit the school, and classroom observations frame the mentoring conversations. Findings show that the OMF offered a shared language for tripartite mentoring conversations as communicative learning spaces. The paper contributes to knowledge about supportive mentoring practices in ITE.

Developing and Implementing a Tier 1 Reading Program Within an RTI Framework: A University–School Partnership

Response to intervention (RTI) is a valuable framework for providing effective and equitable educational opportunities to all students; however, recent research indicates that RTI programs are not achieving their potential for promoting student learning. As schools develop, implement, and sustain RTI systems, they would benefit from the addition of collaborative support provided by professionals knowledgeable about the RTI framework, including specific elements of this model such as evidence-based practices and progress monitoring assessments. We describe the process and outcomes of a university–school partnership aimed at developing and implementing an RTI program for reading at the Tier 1 level.

Building capacity in urban schools: emphasizing partnerships between counselor education and elementary schools

PurposePost-COVID-19, public K–12 schools are still facing the consequences of the years of interrupted learning. Schools serving minoritized students are particularly at risk for facing challenges with academics, behavior and student social emotional health. The university counseling programs are in positions to build capacity in urban schools while also supporting counselors-in-training through service-learning opportunities.Design/methodology/approachThe following conceptual manuscript demonstrates how counselor education counseling programs and public schools can harness the capacity-building benefits of university–school partnerships. While prevalent in fields like special education, counselor educators have yet to heed the hall to participate in mutually beneficial partnership programs.FindingsUsing the multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and the components of the university–school partnerships, counselor educators and school stakeholders can work together to support student mental health, school staff well-being and counselor-in-training competence.Originality/valueThe benefits and opportunities within the university–school partnerships are well documented. However, few researchers have described a model to support partnerships between the university counseling programs and urban elementary schools. We provide a best practice model using the principles of university–school partnerships and a school’s existing MTSS framework.

Experiences of Arab Women Leading School Reform Through a School-University Partnership

ABSTRACT This qualitative case study examines the experiences of 10 Arab women educational leaders leading, as part of a school-university partnership, a movement for school reform in the Arab world. An analysis of the findings, guided by the feminist perspective and using the intersection of literature on leadership of school improvement and women’s ways of leading, reveals that participants’ views and practices of leadership align both with best practices for leading school improvement and what the literature found about women’s leadership specially in the Arab World. The results also show that despite alignment between the participants’ experience and the experience of women leading in the Arab region, participants focused their effort on optimizing their assets, such as enabling work conditions, rather than on fighting against the structural constraints that typically hinder women from leading. We argue that the women’s refusal to reflect on their experience through a gendered lens obstructed them from identifying the gendered nature of the enablers and the structural nature of the obstacles they face. This study contributes to the knowledge base on women’s leadership of school-based transformational change in a non-western setting, an understanding necessary if broad-based leadership is to be achieved.

Increasing Teacher Retention and Supporting Students With Low-Incidence Disabilities Through University Partnership

The shortage of teachers is amplified in rural areas where educators work with students with low-incidence disabilities (LID; visual or hearing impairment; significant cognitive impairment; any impairment for which a small number of personnel with highly specialized skills and knowledge are needed for children to receive early intervention services). This scarcity is closely linked to the lack of accessible knowledge for these teachers. Both a high attrition rate and lack of expertise negatively affect the educational outcomes of students with LID. We propose school–university partnerships (SUPs) to alleviate these challenges. This position paper presents the critical elements of a comprehensive SUP by synthesizing programs reported in the literature, including the following elements (a) instructional, assessment, and online resources; (b) mentorship; and (c) professional development. We specifically identify how these elements can improve outcomes of students with LID and alleviate the rural special education teacher shortage. Finally, we discuss the implications of this proposed SUP and implications for practices, policy, and research.

Weaving Pathways: The Role of High School Family and Consumer Sciences Courses in Cultivating a Teacher Pipeline Across the Midwest

High School Family and Consumer Science classrooms hold the potential for university and high school partnerships for teacher education pipelines. This study uses a comparative policy analysis to provide a regional resource for laws, policies, and programs within the Midwest regarding FCS classrooms and courses that are offered. Utilizing a comparative policy analysis approach, the aim is to create an opportunity for guiding current high school students toward becoming future candidates in teacher education programs by doing intentional outreach. This analysis will provide an outline of how university Teacher Education programs can partner intentionally to recruit and mentor incoming first-year college students while they are learning educational pedagogy in their high school FCS classrooms. This analysis provides a foundation for how high school FCS classrooms and university teacher education classrooms can foster cohesive and supportive mutually beneficial partnerships in the states surrounding Illinois and Indiana. Data were gathered by accessing regional education department websites and illustrating the potential opportunities for high school coursework to connect with established teacher education university programs and align pedagogically. Key findings include multiple opportunities in the Midwest for partnerships that are mutually beneficial and are easily accessible if intentional connections are made between faculty.

Reframing Teacher Candidates’ Views on Disability Through the Writings of Disabled Authors

This study examines the understandings and beliefs about disability of teacher candidates in a credential program to teach students with extensive support needs and shows how reading first-person narratives by disabled authors in a course influenced these understandings and beliefs. The study used deductive thematic coding to analyze reflective assignments from 21 teacher candidates and semi-structured interviews of seven candidates. Four themes were developed through the coding process including current beliefs, expressing discomfort at disabled authors’ experiences, the reflective process, where they made deep connections to personal experiences in their work, family, and community settings, and a resolve to change their teaching practice. The study recommends adding the perspectives of the disabled individual in teacher preparation texts, creating cognitive dissonance in teacher preparation programs as a first step toward changing ableism in the educational system, including veteran teachers in this conversation through university-school partnerships to encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion for all students.

Mutually beneficial? Middle school educators’ perceptions about the benefits and challenges of a school–university partnership

PurposeThe paper identifies and explores the perspectives of middle school educators regarding the benefits and challenges of an ongoing, emerging school–university partnership. Over five years, professors at one comprehensive, Midwestern university, formed a partnership with a local middle school. While progress has been made to develop the partnership, the authors recognized a lack of shared governance (Essential 7). In particular, they were unsure the partnership was mutually beneficial. The authors interviewed teachers, the principal, assistant principals, guidance counselors, the instructional coach and the youth service center director to gain their perspectives on the partnership.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used an intrinsic, evaluative case study to examine educators perceptions of the benefits and challenges of the partnership (Guba & Lincoln, 1981; Patton, 2002). This approach was used because within this bounded system the authors have an interest in obtaining information to help improve the program and partnership.FindingsResults suggest the partnership was beneficial in a number of ways including hiring of and offering fresh ideas to teachers. Educators also felt there were many benefits for university candidates. Challenges included scheduling, technology access and candidate disposition. Implications are discussed.Research limitations/implicationsInherent within the research methodology, researchers’ inclusion in the data collection process may affect participants responses.Practical implicationsResearchers discuss the implications of this work, including the role of hiring candidates and clear articulation of a mission for the partnership.Originality/valueThis work adds to research on school site stakeholders’ perspectives on the value of school–university partnerships and includes teachers and the schools’ entire leadership team.

A University and Public High School Partnership for Personalized, Accelerated Science Learning

Many public schools serving students who are under-represented in STEM fields lack the resources to provide the science education expected in the twenty-first century economy. Universities can deploy their infrastructure and human capital to better support local public schools, better preparing the next generation of college students for success in higher education and access to STEM-related careers. This article describes a university-public school partnership between the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and Paul Robeson High School designed to accelerate the science learning of Paul Robeson High School students by having Penn college students teach hands-on lab activities on the college campus. Here, the partnership is described from the perspective of the school principal and school-based teacher leader for science and math at Paul Robeson High School. We discuss results from recent state standardized exams suggesting that these activities improve science knowledge and understanding for the high school students. A key ingredient for the improved science skills may be the broad social aspects of feeling included in the university setting.

Impact of School-University Partnerships and Professional Learning Communities

School-university partnerships and professional learning communities (PLCs) are important approaches to school reform that have the potential to improve teaching and learning and improve student outcomes. School-university partnerships are collaborative relationships between schools and universities that aim to improve teaching and learning outcomes by providing access to resources and expertise and by developing new curricula and instructional materials. This study analyzes the positive impact of partnerships and communities on teaching and learning outcomes but also acknowledges the challenges they face such as time constraints, funding, and cultural differences. The research method uses Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The data collection process is carried out by identifying and evaluating scientific articles that are relevant to the topic. A literature search was conducted through academic databases, such as PubMed, ERIC, and Google Scholar. The data found analyzed to identify patterns, trends, and consistencies in the findings. Drawing on existing literature and case studies of successful partnerships found that these collaborative models have the potential to significantly improve educational outcomes for students while providing meaningful professional development opportunities for teachers. Success factors include building relationships based on mutual respect and trust, ongoing communication and collaboration and structured professional development. It was concluded that implementing partnerships will create a culture for continuous improvement within the school community.

The Dynamics of University-School Partnerships in Teacher Education Practicum: A Comprehensive Analysis and Framework for Successful Implementation

This research delves into the dynamics of university-school partnerships in the context of the teaching practicum at the Open University of Sri Lanka, aiming to develop a framework for successful implementation. The study recognizes the critical role of the teaching practicum in shaping effective educators and acknowledges the diverse teacher education programs offered by the Faculty of Education. The literature review establishes the importance of the teacher education practicum, emphasizing its role as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical classroom experiences. University-school partnerships are explored as integral to the success of the practicum, with various models identified, including the clinical practice model and co-teaching model. Challenges in these partnerships, such as communication gaps and differing expectations, are discussed. Existing frameworks and strategies for successful implementation are also examined, highlighting the need for a collective approach and reciprocal learning models. The methodology involves a qualitative research approach, including documentary analysis and focus group discussions with master teachers and university academics. The research objectives include identifying the existing framework of the teaching practicum, exploring strategies for enhancing its quality, and establishing a new school-university partnership framework. Results and discussions present the existing framework of the teaching practicum at the Open University of Sri Lanka, emphasizing specific assessment mechanisms and school-based projects. Stakeholders' perspectives contribute to the formulation of innovative strategies, such as improving program interactions, building partnerships with model schools, and creating a stable master-teacher pool. A conceptual framework/model is proposed, illustrating the collaborative synergy between the university and schools to optimize the teaching practicum. In conclusion, the study underscores the critical role of a robust university-school partnership in the success of the teaching practicum. Recommendations include enhancing communication, capacity building for examiners, implementing innovative partnership strategies, maintaining a stable master teacher pool, establishing empirical arrangements, and creating a dedicated helpdesk. The research findings provide valuable insights for improving the quality and impact of the teaching practicum at the Open University of Sri Lanka.

Three approaches to school-university partnerships among teacher residencies: can HBCUs lead the way to an equity-centric model?

PurposeSchool-university partnerships (SUPs) probe a range of P12 challenges and interests, with teacher residencies being chief among them. Because historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have impressive track records (Hill-Jackson, 2017) and knowhow (Marchitello & Trinidad, 2019; Petchauer & Mawhinney, 2017) in preparing teacher candidates to work effectively in diverse schools, this paper seeks deeper understandings of the types of SUPs for teacher residency collaborations employed by traditional versus HBCU programs.Design/methodology/approachThis article draws upon the self-study as a methodology to review a SUP for a teacher residency at an HBCU in the southwestern United States to illustrate an equity-centric model.FindingsLeveraging an equity and third space perspective, three separate approaches to the SUPs are unpacked to establish the outline for this proposal: ceremonial, conventional and communal teacher residency approaches.Originality/valueA novel typology of three distinct approaches to SUPs for teacher residencies is outlined to establish the extent to which equity is foregrounded among teacher residencies.

A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE NETWORK ANALYSIS (SLNA)

This study aims to uncover current, trending, and future research areas within School-University Partnerships (SUPs). The research employs the Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA) method, combining Systematic Literature Review (SLR) using the PRISMA protocol and Bibliometric Analysis with VOSviewer software. The findings indicate a consistent annual increase in SUPs publications, with the United States dominating the research landscape. The VOSviewer analysis reveals key research topics: pre-service teachers, initial teacher education, teacher education in Cluster 1, professional development and school-university partnerships in Cluster 2, and educational development, teacher training, and university in Cluster 3. Overlay Visualization highlights current research trends, including pre-service teachers, professional experience, professional learning community, professional learning, curriculum, learning communities, and communities of practice. Thematic evolution mapping suggests future research involving pre-service teachers in SUPs, such as exploring communities of practice. This research provides valuable guidance for SUPs researchers in selecting and determining future research topics, facilitating informed and strategic contributions to the field.

Deeper learning and leadership development in a school–university partnership with a rural district

PurposeTo meet the needs of under-resourced, rural schools where teacher attrition is high, this case study examined how a school–university partnership strengthened teacher and leader abilities to support deeper learning for students.Design/methodology/approachThis research focused on a 17-year collaborative partnership between one rural school district and a university research and outreach organization to develop deeper learning experiences for students through shared and supportive leadership and learning of teachers and leaders. The researchers utilized documents, field notes and interviews with administrators to validate the data.FindingsThe study’s findings suggest that participation in authentic, researched-based professional development through the partnership improved the skills of leaders and teachers to support deeper learning for students. This partnership heightened teacher and leader capacity to promote and support continued change and sustainability.Originality/valueThis case study explored how one university center collaboratively engaged with a district by sharing research and strategies to support the development of leaders and teachers to create deeper learning for students. Through these experiences, the district evolved its deeper learning system and improved its organizational effectiveness, leadership development and learning for all.

Father involvement in a comprehensive elementary school: building capacity and understanding

PurposeAs part of a larger grant-funded project, a professional development (PD) series was conducted within the framework of a school–university partnership to improve teachers’ capacity to meaningfully include fathers and father figures in the school environment, with a particular focus on fathers of children with disabilities. The authors sought to understand the extent to which a school-wide PD framed through the lens of a father of a child with a disability might inform practice with sustainable implementation. Due to the pandemic, the original format of the PD was redesigned for virtual delivery.Design/methodology/approachA three-phase data collection and analysis approach included a pre-PD survey, a post-PD survey and a one-year follow-up survey. All surveys included both quantitative and qualitative self-report data components.FindingsResults suggest school personnel found the virtual PD valuable, gleaning several useful strategies for reflecting on their own practices, working to improve communication with families of children with disabilities and more meaningfully including fathers and father figures in future school-related activities and programing.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, the sample size of the present study was small, and participation was variable across PD sessions. In addition, participants self-selected into the series, and therefore, they may be more likely to value father-figure involvement with or without participation in the PD series. The small sample size may minimize the generalizability of these results across other replicable settings and participants. Second, the results of the pre-PD survey could be positively skewed since the university partner’s initial delivery of PD related to this topic began in 2018. In the pre-PD survey, the majority of respondents indicated, as an example, that they believed father involvement was correlated with higher academic achievement. It is not clear if respondents held these beliefs independently at the inception of the partnership or if they perhaps learned of these connections during an earlier PD offered by the authors.Practical implicationsThe current study offers a small glimpse into the world of a school–university partnership and its ability to actualize meaningful reflection on family engagement practices. Results also indicate a greater awareness of significant male figures/fathers and their needs. Content delivered during each PD supports capacity building in terms of teachers’ ability to see fathers and father figures as meaningful contributors within the context of the school environment. Participants mentioned that the PD taught them ways to recognize and remediate some of the insidious communication barriers that exist.Social implicationsParticipants stated that they grew in their understanding of intentional connections with significant male figures, noting a concerted effort to ensure communication of information pertaining to school events, conferences and, in some cases, individualized educational programs (IEPs). Staff members also felt as though the pandemic fostered greater connections with fathers who were working at home and who were simultaneously helping their children access online learning platforms. However, it is noteworthy that the latter benefit was likely a positive side effect of mandatory home-based learning as opposed to a direct result of the present study. Socially, the authors all find ourselves embarking on a bit of social uncertainty, where perhaps it is no longer appropriate or significant to mention one's gender. Nonetheless, the research highlights the unique contributions that fathers and father figures can make to children's positive trajectory, and the authors espouse that the current study suggests that virtual PD sessions can help train school personnel to recognize and foster such relationships.Originality/valueThe past few decades have ushered in an awareness of significant male involvement and its importance in the development of young children. Despite this surge of interest, the research on father/significant male involvement in the school context remains limited. Additionally, the implementation of virtual PD and its potential positive impacts remain largely unexplored, especially when the intersection with father engagement practices is considered. As such, the authors espouse that the present study reflects a unique combination of content and pedagogy.

Exploring challenges in preparing prospective teachers for teaching 4C skills in mathematics classroom: A school-university partnership perspectives

Exploring challenges in preparing prospective teachers for teaching 4C skills in mathematics classroom: A school-university partnership perspectives

Partnering to support K-12 instruction of difficult topics through inquiry-based professional learning

PurposeMany K-12 teachers teach difficult topics as part of their curricula, and discussions of difficult topics are common across grade levels and content areas. As teachers increasingly engage with difficult topics in their classrooms, the need for high-quality professional learning experiences has also grown. In response, the purpose of this article is to introduce an emerging partnership between the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative at Penn State and the Red Lion Area School District (Red Lion, Pennsylvania), conceptualized from the outset with an explicit focus on intentionally engaging in collaborative, inquiry-based professional learning surrounding difficult topics in formalized curricula and within educational practice.Design/methodology/approachThe article briefly describes how the partners came together, then provides a high-level overview of how they approached their first year of collaboration. Next, the partners’ adaptation of inquiry-based professional learning is outlined. The article concludes by discussing lessons learned from the first year of partnering and implications for scholarship in the areas of school-university partnerships, inquiry-based professional learning, and difficult topics.FindingsThe article observes that it took educators participating in a difficult-topics inquiry community an entire year to begin shifting ownership of inquiry to K-12 students. It illustrates how school-university partnerships can be used to support difficult-topics inquiry and raises new questions about the role of difficult topics in partnership work.Originality/valueThe article contributes an original example to the literature that demonstrates how inquiry-based professional learning focused on difficult topics can provide a powerful basis for forming a school-university partnership.

Advocacy is contagious: the PDS effect

PurposeThis article, written by a multilingual learner program (MLP) specialist, provides a first-hand account of how a professional development school (PDS) (school–university partnership school) promotes teacher advocacy.Design/methodology/approachDue to the subject of the piece, no research methods were necessary.FindingsDue to the subject of the piece, there are no findings.Originality/valueThe teacher details the teacher's educational journey from intern to doctoral candidate.