The Province of New Brunswick committed to educational initiatives, one of which is the implementation of a Quality Learning Agenda (QLA, 2003). The research partners in this study came together to develop a research proposal that would explore the literacy of boys and girls in a case study. The school district officials and the university administrators cooperated with the two researchers to make the project come to life. The acceptance of the proposal by Human Resources Development Canada/National Literacy Secretariat completed the partnership.

The school district supported the project by allowing the research to be located in a local school. In the school setting, the principal and the teachers supported the study in every way. The children's parents/guardians were informed and signed consent forms enabling the children to participate in the study. The university's in-kind contributions included, office space for the project manager/researcher and a course release for the university researcher. The researchers also relied on volunteers from the university and community to act as mentors and assessors for the project.

The partnership relationships have grown over the length of the project. The Education Department at St. Thomas University benefits from the closer ties to the schools. The Education Department has also been happy to have the school based researcher to teach language arts and literacy. This researcher has become a part of the university community.

School District 18 has had the advantage of having its' teachers become involved in research. Teachers have also received professional development in the use of literature circles and reading assessments. The children have had grand experiences: meeting and reading with male mentors and participating in literature circles as part of this study.