Researchers conducted a review of the literature to identify key papers that describe the characteristics of effective partnerships between school districts and others, especially educator training programs. Their work was a follow-up to efforts by a professional learning community of people from principal training programs and school districts. The community was part of The Wallace Foundation's Principal Pipeline Initiative. The group had assembled an initial list of indicators of successful partnerships between districts and providers. It also recommended that the list be validated and added to after a thorough a review of research literature. In addition, the learning community suggested development of a tool to help forge or strengthen district-provider partnerships.

Researchers conducted a review of the literature to identify key papers that describe the characteristics of effective district-level partnerships. While most of the research on partnerships consisted of single case studies, the researchers sought to identify literature that provides a broader evidence base drawn from multiple sources. They selected articles that described cross case analysis, literature reviews, and other synthesis pieces. 

Researchers searched the ERIC and Education Research Complete databases as well as Google Scholar. The search was limited to full-text articles published 2002-2012, using the following search terms: interagency partnerships, effective partnerships, partnership AND preparation AND school district, partnership AND (district or LEA) AND (university or IHE or college), partnership AND (evaluation or efficacy).