Across the nation, community colleges, K-12 school districts, and universities are collaborating with each other in creative ways that pool resources, increase access, and achieve myriad educational goals. Although not all partnerships include two-year colleges, these institutions serve as a bridge between public schools and four-year colleges, and between schools and the workforce.

Despite the perceived benefits of collaboration, many partnerships fail to obtain desired results, cannot be sustained, or cease to benefit both parties. In an era of increased accountability, it is critical to understand why so many partnerships fall short of their goals and to identify the factors that contribute to the success or failure of a collaboration. Highlighting important elements of educational collaboration, chapters in this volume offer a means to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of partnerships.

This is the 139th issue of the Jossey Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Community College.