In keeping with the tradition set forth in volumes 1-4, this fifth volume, Creating Visions for University - School Partnerships, a volume in Professional Development School Research, continues to exemplify current thinking of practitioners and researchers in the field. The range of authors from the Prek-16 arena illustrates the ways in which professional development schools generate possible solutions to the complex problems facing educators. The diversity of their work represents perspectives of classroom teachers, preservice teachers, school leaders, and university faculty who grapple with identifying "ways of knowing" and "ways of doing" that enhance educational outcomes for Prek-12 students while also serving to transform the profession. The volume's contents of 19 chapters divided into four areas: (1) Clinically Rich Practices (2) PDS Stakeholders' Perspectives (3) Enriching Content Area Instruction (4) Family Engagement, gives us a more vivid picture of the work that partnerships are doing to fulfill the PDS promise for improving teaching and learning at every level.

This book examines the ways in which PDSs build cultural competence for various stakeholders including pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, school leaders, college faculty, and K-12 students. Given the increased national attention on the opportunity gap present in underserved marginalized communities across the country, the authors in this series identify a combination of research-based practices and institutional changes that increase student attainment and develop educators' capacity to serve a range of diverse learners.We are certain the timeliness of the topic will provide educators with context for understanding the role PDSs play in the creation of culturally responsive schools.

How the Professional Development School and Community School strategy might benefit from an integrated perspective serves as the guiding framework for this volume of Research in Professional Development Schools. This book advocates for blending these two approaches to address the needs of P-20 settings and their communities. Because we recognize the inherent strengths in both models, we encouraged chapters that had as a primary focus one or both models as they sought to support teacher preparation and K-12 partners. Subsequently, a series of questions framed the conversation around the potential for combining these models as well as what such an integrated model might present for teacher education programs, K-12 partners, and their communities. Since this volume explores three different aspects of the relationship between Professional Development Schools and Community Schools, a set of guiding questions were offered to guide the specific models addressed.

"Once upon a time there were five little girls who shared a dream. They wanted to be ballerinas and dance on stage like their sisters and cousins and friends."

"But it would be hard for these girls to make their dream come true. They had cerebral palsy or other physical disabilities, which meant their muscles didn't move the way they wanted them to. Some wore leg braces. Some used wheelchairs and walkers to get around. But these girls were determined. They had a dedicated teacher. Every week they practiced. They worked hard. And one day they were ready. "

"Ballerina Dreams" is an inspiring true story of love, hope and courage for everyone and anyone who has ever wished (and worked) hard enough to make their dreams come true.

This volume in the Research in Professional Development Schools book series considers the role professional development schools (PDSs) play in expanding opportunities for linking research and clinical practice. As in past volumes of this series, PDS practitioners and researchers make a compelling case for the power of micro?level initiatives to change practice. Contributors share ideas to expand PDS work beyond site?specific contexts to include a broader macro?level agenda for clinical practice. Authors hope to inspire large scale PDS reform through replication of successful initiatives featured in this volume. Evoking change is not easy. Nonetheless, series editors and contributors conclude that PDSs generate a critical mass of PKaEURO"16 educators willing to form partnerships to address enduring educational dilemmas. This volume represents a cross section of PDS stakeholders engaged in research along with innovative projects that uncover the richness of clinical practice. Higher education faculty, school practitioners, and preservice teachers featured in these chapters explore the ways PDSs deepen clinical practice while enriching teaching and learning. We begin with the discussion by Beebe, Stunkard, and Nath on the National Association for Professional Development School's(NAPDS's) role to support teacher candidates' clinical practice through the cooperative efforts of university and school?based personnel. The authors explain NAPDS' history and advocacy over the years to promote a context for schooluniversity partnerships to thrive and expand. As the premier association guiding the work of collaborative PaEURO"12/higher education partnerships, we welcome the insightful perspectives provided.

Ferrara, Jacobson, and their colleagues illuminate how community schools become a comprehensive, place-based strategy that both supports high-quality teaching and learning and addresses out-of-school barriers to success. They provide first-hand accounts of how diverse actors, working together, build partnerships between the school and other local entities—higher education institutions, government health and social service agencies, community-based non-profits, and faith-based organizations. These partnerships intentionally seek to provide opportunities and supports that are enjoyed by students in better resourced schools in which the schools’ work is routinely (but often invisibly) supplemented by high-capacity communities and families.

This book is intended as a guide for practitioners interested in forming alliances within their community to support teacher and student success. Under the umbrella of a professional development school (PDS), school principals willing to engage in this type of partnership have access to a framework for school renewal. Within this school/university framework lie four critical factors that transform the ways in which teachers' teach and schools' function. The professional development school model takes a holistic approach to revitalizing schools by sharing knowledge, resources, practices, and the collaborative efforts of P-12 educators and the higher education community. Through the collective wisdom of P-12 and university educators, PDSs provide a new way to think about teaching and a rich environment for learning.

This book is intended as a guide for practitioners interested in forming alliances within their community to support teacher and student success. Under the umbrella of a professional development school (PDS), school principals willing to engage in this type of partnership have access to a framework for school renewal. Within this school/university framework lie four critical factors that transform the ways in which teachers' teach and schools' function. The professional development school model takes a holistic approach to revitalizing schools by sharing knowledge, resources, practices, and the collaborative efforts of P-12 educators and the higher education community. Through the collective wisdom of P-12 and university educators, PDSs provide a new way to think about teaching and a rich environment for learning.

This book provides a unique examination on the ways in which educating the whole child in the community school serves to ameliorate the conditions of poverty and obstacles to learning faced by students. Using a case study approach the book will highlight the successful journey of one school that transformed itself into a community school. Given the rise in poverty nation-wide and the unprecedented economic crisis, many school districts are looking for innovative ways to garner resources for their schools. The strategies outlined in this book will provide suggestions for using the resources of community partnerships as a framework for school renewal and improvement in student achievement. The authors share their first hand experiences building a community school from the ground up, as well as providing the national perspective on community schools. Acknowledging the power of the "community" school, this book concludes with a "call to action" for the dissemination of this model and its embrace of whole child education.

This book provides a unique examination on the ways in which educating the whole child in the community school serves to ameliorate the conditions of poverty and obstacles to learning faced by students. Using a case study approach the book will highlight the successful journey of one school that transformed itself into a community school. Given the rise in poverty nation-wide and the unprecedented economic crisis, many school districts are looking for innovative ways to garner resources for their schools. The strategies outlined in this book will provide suggestions for using the resources of community partnerships as a framework for school renewal and improvement in student achievement. The authors share their first hand experiences building a community school from the ground up, as well as providing the national perspective on community schools. Given the power of the community school, this book concludes with a "call to action" for the dissemination of this model and its embrace of whole child education

Ferrara, Jacobson, and their colleagues illuminate how community schools become a comprehensive, place-based strategy that both supports high-quality teaching and learning and addresses out-of-school barriers to success. They provide first-hand accounts of how diverse actors, working together, build partnerships between the school and other local entities—higher education institutions, government health and social service agencies, community-based non-profits, and faith-based organizations. These partnerships intentionally seek to provide opportunities and supports that are enjoyed by students in better resourced schools in which the schools’ work is routinely (but often invisibly) supplemented by high-capacity communities and families.

How the Professional Development School and Community School strategy might benefit from an integrated perspective serves as the guiding framework for this volume of Research in Professional Development Schools. This book advocates for blending these two approaches to address the needs of P-20 settings and their communities. Because we recognize the inherent strengths in both models, we encouraged chapters that had as a primary focus one or both models as they sought to support teacher preparation and K-12 partners. Subsequently, a series of questions framed the conversation around the potential for combining these models as well as what such an integrated model might present for teacher education programs, K-12 partners, and their communities. Since this volume explores three different aspects of the relationship between Professional Development Schools and Community Schools, a set of guiding questions were offered to guide the specific models addressed.

This book examines the ways in which PDSs build cultural competence for various stakeholders including pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, school leaders, college faculty, and K-12 students. Given the increased national attention on the opportunity gap present in underserved marginalized communities across the country, the authors in this series identify a combination of research-based practices and institutional changes that increase student attainment and develop educators' capacity to serve a range of diverse learners.We are certain the timeliness of the topic will provide educators with context for understanding the role PDSs play in the creation of culturally responsive schools.

This volume in the Research in Professional Development Schools book series considers the role professional development schools (PDSs) play in expanding opportunities for linking research and clinical practice. As in past volumes of this series, PDS practitioners and researchers make a compelling case for the power of micro?level initiatives to change practice. Contributors share ideas to expand PDS work beyond site?specific contexts to include a broader macro?level agenda for clinical practice. Authors hope to inspire large scale PDS reform through replication of successful initiatives featured in this volume. Evoking change is not easy. Nonetheless, series editors and contributors conclude that PDSs generate a critical mass of PKaEURO"16 educators willing to form partnerships to address enduring educational dilemmas. This volume represents a cross section of PDS stakeholders engaged in research along with innovative projects that uncover the richness of clinical practice. Higher education faculty, school practitioners, and preservice teachers featured in these chapters explore the ways PDSs deepen clinical practice while enriching teaching and learning. We begin with the discussion by Beebe, Stunkard, and Nath on the National Association for Professional Development School's(NAPDS's) role to support teacher candidates' clinical practice through the cooperative efforts of university and school?based personnel. The authors explain NAPDS' history and advocacy over the years to promote a context for schooluniversity partnerships to thrive and expand. As the premier association guiding the work of collaborative PaEURO"12/higher education partnerships, we welcome the insightful perspectives provided.

In keeping with the tradition set forth in volumes 1-4, this fifth volume, Creating Visions for University - School Partnerships, a volume in Professional Development School Research, continues to exemplify current thinking of practitioners and researchers in the field. The range of authors from the Prek-16 arena illustrates the ways in which professional development schools generate possible solutions to the complex problems facing educators. The diversity of their work represents perspectives of classroom teachers, preservice teachers, school leaders, and university faculty who grapple with identifying "ways of knowing" and "ways of doing" that enhance educational outcomes for Prek-12 students while also serving to transform the profession. The volume's contents of 19 chapters divided into four areas: (1) Clinically Rich Practices (2) PDS Stakeholders' Perspectives (3) Enriching Content Area Instruction (4) Family Engagement, gives us a more vivid picture of the work that partnerships are doing to fulfill the PDS promise for improving teaching and learning at every level.