April 2023 | Edited by Louis M. Gomez; Manuelito Biag; David G. Imig, Randy Hitz, and Steve Tozer – Foreword by Anthony S. Bryk
Improving America’s Schools Together: How District-University Partnerships and Continuous Improvement Can Transform Education is the first definitive text on continuous improvement in school district-university partnerships, covering improvement methods, theory, research, and real cases across the United States with practical improvement tools that can be adapted to any setting. Through an array of in-depth stories, this book demonstrates how improvement science—as a shared method—can help universities, districts, and schools foster leaders and educators and enhance students’ learning and opportunities.
Among other topics, readers will benefit from reading about how these partnerships developed programs and courses for aspiring school leaders centered on local problems; strengthened improvement capabilities within districts and schools; leveraged improvement science to transform how teachers are professionally supported; and spanned institutional boundaries through shared tools, frameworks, and practices. Through rich stories and detailed artifacts, including protocols, MOUs, and other practical tools, the authors provide insight and guidance on the mechanics of place-based, problem-focused, and improvement-minded district-university partnerships. Readers can assess their readiness and ability to establish continuous improvement partnerships; identify the enabling conditions in their locales; and recognize the kinds of resources and strategies that allow for mutually beneficial collaborations.
