Urban public secondary education has come under constant scrutiny from government agencies, foundations, and educational researchers for more than a decade. It is the quality of public education that is now in question. In conjunction with this trend, is the concern for how this decline of public education may influence the future development of our nation. This dissertation provides some understanding of the complexities of developing and maintaining collaborative programs between academia and the urban secondary schools attempting to achieve effective change. Through an in-depth study of one collaborative, the Boston Secondary Schools Project (BSSP), the study shows how the role of the university or college is of pivotal importance in providing assistance to secondary school educators developing needed changes. In an attempt to remain objective, all aspects of this collaborative were investigated. Included in the study is the organizational structure, growth, evolutionary changes, and the impact of the BSSP on the Boston Public Schools. Additional research was also conducted regarding the value of the program to the participating graduate students. The BSSP has retained its longevity due to the dedication of the University of Massachusetts School of Education faculty, and to the perseverance of the graduate students in their determination to retain the program. The collaborative has been able to include the most essential elements needed to maintain a successful partnership. The program has provided a clear agreement of goals, maintained administrative support, operated under a system of coequality between university and school faculty, worked to overcome the continuous obstacles to its objectives, and has continued to focus on realistic expectations of stated goals.