Four years ago, Rhoades Elementary in Indianapolis was labeled a failing school under the No Child Left Behind Act. Test scores were in the basement, programs weren't being funded, and professional development opportunities were being overlooked.

Since becoming a part of Ball State's Professional Development Schools Network (PDS), Rhoades has made a dramatic turnaround. Teachers College faculty have worked closely with the school to offer more professional development opportunities, create literacy and writing programs, develop weekly assessments for struggling students, and integrate technology into the school's teaching and learning.

The partnership resulted in student achievement scores doubling (ISTEP scores jumped from less than 39 percent to 81 percent) and the school securing a sizable grant for technology to supplement its reading and math literacy programs.

For their efforts, both the elementary school and Ball State earned national honors. Rhoades was named a 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education-one of only 11 Indiana schools to earn the award. And in February, Ruth Swetnam, coordinator of the PDS Network, traveled to Chicago with Teachers College and Rhoades Elementary faculty to accept the Nancy Zimpher Award for Best Partnership, the highest award given by the Holmes Partnership.