Democracy and Reform in Public Schools: The Case for Collaborative Partnerships

A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year

A thought-provoking examination of how public education systems can be strengthened through strategic relationships both within schools and with outside partners.

In Democracy and Reform in Public Schools, Saul Rubinstein, Charles Heckscher, and John McCarthy apply their expertise in labor relations to public school reform. They envision a model of K-12 education that shifts away from the tenets of neoliberalism and centers on productive collaboration among school boards, school administrators, teacher unions, and other education stakeholders.

Providing evidence of the links between collaborative partnerships and improved student outcomes, Rubinstein, Heckscher, and McCarthy build on a rich body of research on interorganizational cooperation. They highlight case studies such as that of the New Jersey Public School Labor-Management Collaborative as leading examples of how better student performance, more intra-district learning and innovation, and reduced teacher turnover can be traced to greater educator collaboration. Citing examples not only from the K-12 educational sector but also from successful union-management partnerships in the automobile, steel, and telecommunications industries, they then identify proven strategies to foster collaborative partnerships at district, state, and national levels. They discuss techniques for forging new partnerships, sustaining collaborative efforts, and expanding the collaborative partnership model to larger scales.

This work expertly demonstrates how employment relations practices are antecedents to whole-system reform in schools.