Litow, a professor of practice in a school of public policy, and Kelley, an author and reporter, detail a school model that focuses on equity and helping all young people achieve academic excellence and career readiness: P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School), a collaboration among a public high school, community college, and business partner. The model gives access to a free, high-quality college degree in STEM to students who might not otherwise have it and creates a pool of qualified employees for businesses. They describe the origins of the program in Brooklyn; its high expectations and the research on the power of high expectations; the importance of equity, including same-race teachers, the shortage of teachers of color, and rebuilding a diverse teaching force, as well as student recruiting at P-TECH schools and the importance of no barriers to enter the program; its rigorous coursework designed to prepare students for college and careers; its support for learning, such as tutoring, comprehensive counseling, and community service; interactions with college and business partners in the program; leadership aspects; a story of how one P-TECH school opened and its first year; and lessons for broader reform. Annotation ©2021 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
Breaking Barriers shows how to redesign high schools so that all students can move on to college and successful careers. In a negation of the American Dream, a childs zip code is currently a far better predictor of success than hard work, intelligence, or resilience. This book tells the story of a school model that focuses on equity and works to prove that all young people can achieve academic excellence given the right support. P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) combines public high schools and community colleges in partnership with employers, providing both opportunity and support for all students. This innovative and effective approach eliminates barriers to replication by engaging all stakeholders. The first P-TECH, which opened in a low-income Brooklyn neighborhood, is now a model for school reform. Praised by President Obama and heads of nations, its story is told through the voices of students who have shattered the myths about which students can succeed.
Book Features:
- Describes a successful school reform model that is operating in 240 schools across 12 states and 28 countries.
- Demonstrates how engaging and involving all stakeholders in school reform creates partners instead of adversaries.
- Illustrates how success in a single school has become the linchpin behind a reform movement because the key barriers to replication were removed in its very design.
- Delves into thorny issues like the opportunity and achievement gaps, dismal college completion rates, college debt, income inequality, and the need for skilled, diverse STEM employees.
