While the movement for standards and accountability has largely succeeded in bringing greater attention to the issues surrounding student achievement, surprisingly little attention has been given to what it takes to create conditions in schools that will make achievement more likely. Missing from much of the policy debate on achievement is how to support and cultivate effective teaching. This session will describe strategies that have proven effective elsewhere at supporting teaching and learning. It will make explicit reference to strategies that are useful in technical and vocational schools and will explore how schools can develop effective partnerships with parents and community groups to further raise achievement.