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The goals of the Center for Partnerships to Improve Education are to

• improve student performance and reduce the drop-out rate,
  
  
• increase enrollment of minority and low-income students in institutions of higher learning,
  
  
• prepare youth for employment in the 21st century workforce,
  
  
• re-engage disaffected students in education,
  
  
• educate teacher candidates to work effectively in low-performing schools and to seek employment in such schools,
  
  
• establish expectations, incentives, and professional development for teachers to make a long-term commitment to work in low-performing schools, and
  
  
• improve understanding in higher education and businesses of the issues limiting urban and rural students' futures and identify ways to address these issues.