About the Urban Education Collaborative

The Urban Education Collaborative (UEC) was established in 2005 by the College of Education at Temple University, with support from the William Penn Foundation. Collaborating with the School District of Philadelphia, as well as with other districts and schools in the Philadelphia region, the UEC was founded in order to develop a mutually supportive educational reform strategy, one that simultaneously improves the work of schools and institutions like the college. In particular, UEC’s strategy is designed to correct a lack of coordination between school improvement efforts—as pursued by district leaders and staff, principals, and teachers—and educational evaluation research and professional education—as conducted in institutions of higher learning.

The work of the Urban Education Collaborative is focused on improvements in (a) teaching quality, (b) leadership development, and (c) school climates that are conducive to learning. Within each of these areas of its focus, the UEC seeks to:

• conduct continuous monitoring in order to develop a thorough understanding of the specific needs of preK–12 practitioners;
• pursue rigorous research in response to specific school or district problems; and
• encourage and support the application of practices demonstrated to be effective by research—practices that will improve the system of education, particularly in the professional education of teachers and school leaders.

Through the efforts of the UEC, it is hoped that the college, districts, and schools will identify and develop innovations in urban education and the preparation of urban educators to significantly improve school conditions and student learning.

Projects of the Collaborative

Over the last year and a half, the UEC has developed a portfolio of research and evaluation, professional education, and technical assistance work in three key areas for urban school improvement:

• Teacher/Teaching Quality
  • Cooperating Schools
  • E=mc2 (Transition to Teaching)
  • Study of Teacher Recruitment and Hiring in Philadelphia Schools
  • Center for Teaching Excellence
  • TUteach
  • Study of Teacher Supports and Incentives in Philadelphia Schools
•   Leadership Development
  •   Academy for Leadership in Philadelphia Schools (ALPS)
  •   Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership Initiative (PA ILI)
  •   Pennsylvania Department of Education Principal Development
  •   Special Education Leadership Academy
•   Climate for Learning
  •   Study of Small Learning Communities Implementation in the Christina School District
  •   Study of Safe, Smart, and Well (SAW) Program in the William Penn School District

These pursuits have been carefully chosen to build practical knowledge about urban schooling that promises innovation and improvement in the college’s core functions.