Book excerpt: To fully prepare K-12 students for life and career, connect with your community! Benefit from the triple win of community-based learning—meaningful curriculum, engaged students, and stronger local partnerships for education. This helpful guide shows readers how to create a thriving program, including: Implementing a high-quality, sustainable initiative that bridges academic disciplines Forging rewarding relationships with local partners, from major employers to small businesses and community groups Recognizing and overcoming common barriers to program effectiveness, while making the best use of resources and time Applying best practices from today’s community-based learning programs, illustrated by case studies and examples