With a few notable exceptions, the demographic characteristics of Annenberg schools and their student enrollments are representative of the school system as a whole. The networks and how they function. The Challenge has supported a wide range of implementation networks that vary in size, composition, external partners, and substantive foci. While they differ in these characteristics, many implementation networks function in similar ways. As reported by principals, working relationships among schools and external partners are largely cooperative if not collaborative.
External partners play a key role in network function.
External partners have been instrumental in forming most implementation networks. Most principals report that they interact more frequently with their external partners than with other schools in their networks. Most principals see their networks as having clear goals, and most report that their external partners exert at least some press on them to address Chicago Annenberg themes of time, size, and isolation. Most report that the Challenge is central to the work of their schools. At the same time, principals acknowledge that the Challenge exists alongside many other programs in their schools.