As collaboratives increasingly make a difference in educational reform, a growing number of states are examining the entire K-16 system and exploring ways to connect educational levels and systems to better serve students--especially those at-risk and underrepresented. The Collaborative Advantage contributes to the field by documenting the benefits of a collaborative, K-16 approach to educational reform and by providing a comprehensive set of lessons and recommendations developed by inter-institutional collaboratives from around the United States. This jargon-free book identifies three critical stages in the development of a collaborative: foundation-building, growth, and making collaboration a sustainable force for reform. Numerous challenges, solutions, and examples are provided for each stage. To further assist practitioners, the authors identify three partnership types--program, pathway, and policy. This book will be of interest to administrators, practitioners in both higher education and K-12, and faculty who teach courses in education, sociology, public policy, and organizational behavior.