Purpose: This initiative is intended to provide support for the exploration of new partnerships between Task Force on Quality Inclusive Schooling member colleges and targeted high need schools identified with the Regional School Support Centers. [Regional School Support Center (RSSC) personnel must be consulted when identifying schools and districts with which to explore these partnerships.] This initiative supports the goal of having a robust and mutually beneficial partnership between each Task Force member college and a high need school or district. The partnership exploration might include the following:

• College faculty members might sit with administrators and teachers from an identified high need school to talk about placements of pre-service teachers in the school for early field experiences.
• Faculty members might explore questions that teachers in a high need school would like to pursue through action research projects.
• Teachers and administrators in a high need school district might discuss with college and department administrators how they might collaborate in professional development and pre-service teacher education.

By exploring such partnerships now, colleges and schools in an RSSC may begin to understand opportunities and challenges that may exist should a formal partnership be formed subsequently. Even the exploration alone should be educative to those who participate in it. Hopefully, many of the partnerships explored will be proposed and supported next year.

Expected outcomes: A description of a potential institutional relationship between a Task Force institution and a high need school or district is the expected outcome of this initiative. This description may be provided in one of two formats:

• If the partners wish to pursue additional funding support, they may choose to submit "Proposal for Partnership Enactment - Initiative 8A" as soon as it is developed, but no later than August 15, 2003.
• If no additional funding is sought, this description may be part of a final report due August 15, 2003. The institutional relationship proposed should be characterized by specificity with regard to the needs of the targeted school. It is equally important that the proposed partnership provide an opportunity for pre-service teacher education experiences in the school.

Receiving a Partnership Exploration Grant does not imply continued funding of the partnership itself. Rather, descriptions of the proposed partnerships will be reviewed with the expectation of funding those that advance the goal of having a robust partnership between each Task Force member college and a high need school or district.

Awards: Partnership Exploration Grants will be given to those applicants who demonstrate a commitment to exploring a partnership as described above. Collaboration with the Regional School Support Center is required in the identification of high need schools.

Award amounts will not exceed $1,000 per grant. The award will be given to
members of the Task Force and their school planning partners through consultant agreements; up to 4 consultant agreements are allowed per grant. Individuals receiving agreements are responsible for arrangements made between and amongst themselves for work and submitting the final description. Individuals are responsible for their own expenses.

Because awards will be made to individuals, no indirect costs will be incurred. Generally, only one award per higher education institution will be made, unless exceptional proposals are received. Funds must be expended by August 15, 2003, which is the submission deadline for the final report or the Proposal for Partnership Enactment - Initiative 8A. Payment for the consultant work will be made following receipt of the partnership description.

Time frame: Partnership Exploration Grant proposals should be received by June 15, 2003.