Strategic Alliances in Education / Project Summaries
Charter Management Organizations: A National Study of Scale-Up and Strategic Planning
October 2008 - Present
The Center on Educational Governance is studying CMO scale-up and strategic planning. CMOs are nonprofit entities that oversee a network of charter schools and that 1) have a common, identifiable mission or instructional design across all schools; 2) have a home office/unified management team that provides significant, ongoing administrative support to charter schools; and 3) manage only classroom-based sites.
The study aims to include all CMOs nationwide that currently operate at least 3 school campuses and have established plans to scale-up in the future (about 35 CMOs). Study methods include in-depth interviews with the CMO founder(s) and another member of the administrative team (2-3 interviews per CMO). Interview questions cover factors that influence scale-up, from finance and governance/management strategies to public policy at the federal, state and local levels.
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Education.
Supporting the Creation of Charter Schools: Using Cross-Sectoral Alliances to Enhance Capacity
October 2001 to December 2004
In this national study, the Center on Educational Governance conducted site visits to 22 charter schools in a sample of 11 states to examine how new-start charter schools use public-private partnerships to enhance capacity. Charter schools in the study partnered with a wide variety of public organizations, nonprofit groups, and for-profit businesses to enhance everything from their facilities to the curriculum and services offered to students. The study also examined the factors that motivated organizations to develop strategic alliances, and the conditions that supported or impeded such alliances.
Funding Source: Ahmanson Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, United States Department of Education.
Evaluation of the DELTA Initiative Design for Excellence: Linking Teaching and Student Achievement
March 1998 - April 2001
The DELTA Initiative was a comprehensive reform aimed at changing professional development and support for teachers at the pre-service, induction and in-service levels. The Initiative was also designed to foster collaboration between K through 12 educators and the California State University teacher training system. The DELTA Initiative, which began in 1996, was implemented in four Annenberg School Families, each of which worked with a Los Angeles area California State University as part of the Initiative. The Center on Educational Governance evaluated the impact of the DELTA Initiative on changes in teacher training programs at the participating California State University campuses. Data collection methods included interviews with university professors and administrators, and teachers participating in the DELTA training. Students enrolled in teacher training programs at selected California State University campuses were also surveyed.
Funding Source: California State University, Weingart Foundation.
