Our nation continues to face one of the most consequential challenges of its history–preparing its youth for the 21 st century. Perhaps no other single challenge has so illuminated the commitment of Americans to a better future than that to improve its schools. Too much is at stake to fail.

But much remains to be done. Alarming test scores, attendance and dropout rates, and the growing gap in academic performance between student populations denote enduring problems for educators nationwide. For the majority of our nation's children, a strong education remains the single most critical avenue for securing a good and meaningful life.

To meet challenges of this magnitude, educators must be helped to develop their capabilities to the fullest. Young people must be schooled to use their minds to solve problems, apply knowledge and skills creatively, and make thoughtful and wise decisions in their dealings with others and the world around them. Enormous progress has been made through the efforts of many individuals and organizations—yet tremendous need remains.

Who We Are
The Collaborative for Teaching and Learning is a non-profit, national consulting organization based in Louisville Kentucky . The Collaborative was founded in 1994 with a mission to help schools become places where all children learn, and with a clear focus on the teacher as the critical factor in student success.

The organization provides customized and targeted professional development and consultation that emphasizes classroom practice, and instructional and administrative leadership. With a professional staff that has extensive experience in education at all levels, the organization is committed to providing high quality programs that create sustainable capacity. The Collaborative uses a standards-based approach to develop programs that are firmly grounded in theoretical foundations and research-based approaches, and that provide educators with practical tools and strategies.

Our Mission
To ensure excellence and equity in learning for individuals and organizations.

Our Values
These core values inform the decisions we make and the actions we take. We value...

• Accountability, because keeping our word and doing high quality work is respectful of our colleagues, partners, and clients
• Honesty, clarity, authenticity, and transparency because they characterize the respectful relationships we desire with our colleagues, partners, and clients
• Partnerships with organizations that share our vision of equity and excellence
• The arts, because they enrich our lives, deepen our learning, and extend our perspectives
• Stewardship, because conscious and intentional use of resources is necessary
• Purposeful action based on reflection and evidence
• Being in a learning community, because it supports continuous improvement and professional growth
• Opportunities to recognize and support our colleagues, because they make positive contributions to the Collaborative's mission and vision

Recently we have worked in middle schools and high schools helping teachers to incorporate into their teaching content literacy strategies that help all students tackle increasingly complex and challenging coursework. We also work at the state level, with organizations like the Kentucky Department of Education to develop tools and processes that have an impact statewide on improving principal and teacher practice, and thereby student learning.

Our work at the national level has included clients like the Council of Chief State School Officers and IBM and the Satellite Education Resources Center . To view a representative list of schools and other client organizations click Clients above.

Results
Due to our emphasis on the individual learner's strengths, and in helping teachers understand, identify, and build on these strengths, our programs and services have proven to be successful in increasing the performance of all students–even the performance of traditionally low achieving students.

Studies from UCLA, the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, measuring the effects of our programs in hundreds of classrooms nationwide, have all shown increases in student performance across all subject areas. Studies have also shown that students come to want to attend school and see their success as due to their own efforts and hard work, as opposed to their being "smart."

How We Can Help
We would be happy to talk with you about ways we might assist your district, school or organization in helping all learners succeed. Contact us for more information.