This research used Q methodology and follow-up interviews to investigate essential elements required to establish and maintain successful school-university partnerships as reported by principals, teachers, and university coordinators in 10 partnerships. Of the partnerships, five were voluntary and grant-related and the other five were required by the district for Chicago public schools on probation. Analysis of the 34 Q sorts (54 items based on a grounded theory of partnership process) identified five factors representing different perspectives on key elements for successful partnerships, with participants tending to load on factors based on member position and/or context of the partnership.
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