To the Editor:

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently urged universities to get more involved in helping to improve underperforming schools ("Duncan Urges Colleges to Help Underperforming School More," The Chronicle, September 10). Secretary Duncan encouraged universities to form partnerships with local school districts, improve teacher education, and even consider establishing their own charter schools.

In these economic times, many colleges and universities may quickly dismiss the idea of delving into the K-12 realm by establishing a charter school, but the benefits to students, faculty members, and the communities they serve can far outweigh the costs.

In 2006, Widener University opened the Widener Partnership Charter School, Pennsylvania's first university-based charter school. Emphasizing the holistic education of the child, the core curriculum is supplemented by music, art, drama, physical education, and foreign-language instruction. The school also offers programming focused on the social and emotional development of students. The hallmark, however, is the partnership that the school makes with parents and caregivers that lets them be intensely and productively engaged in their child's educational experience.

In just three years, the school has had a tremendous impact on the community that it serves and on the university. Parents who had lost faith in the city's public-school system now see hope for the future of their children. Students have more confidence and truly believe that they can be the "world changers" they are taught they can be. The bottom line, however, is in academic achievement. On the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test, Widener Partnership Charter School students far exceeded the local school district's average and the state's established standards.

For Widener students, the charter school provides a wealth of experiential learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students not only in education, but also in social work, clinical psychology and even physical therapy. Some students have also been hired by the charter school after graduation. For Widener faculty, the school provides a wealth of opportunities for research and publications.

Not every college and university could or should establish its own charter school, but we can all examine the role that we are playing and become active partners with our school districts in improving education. The future of our nation depends on it.

James T. Harris III
President
Widener University
Chester, Pa.