Keeping a face on policy: A reflective case study on collaborative education relationships

Keeping a face on policy: A reflective case study on collaborative education relationships

Education, Policy

This research was a qualitative case study designed (a) to examine the relationship between two higher education organizations and an Urban League affiliate that came together in response to a National Urban League, Inc. resolution to improve the educational performance of African-American students in two public school districts; (b) to evaluate the effectiveness of the collaboration using the stakeholders perspectives; and (c) to assess the views of social service, public school, university, and community college officials on the potential of this type of collaboration to help improve the academic performance of African-American students in the public schools. Moreover, this study may help us understand what roles each organization should play for effective collaboration and develop guidelines to help education and advocacy organizations such as Urban League affiliates establish collaborative or partnership relationships to address the need of low income and minority students in local public school districts.

The outcome of the research revealed that collaborative education policy plays a significant role in supporting academic and social development of youth. However, appropriate policy must be developed in a manner that acknowledges the implications of race and power on organizational cultural conflict in the policy development process. Particularly, as it relates to collaborative education policy designed to serve underachieving minority students, particularly, African-Americans.

William M. Patterson

2000

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