Breaking Barriers

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 child’s 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.

Stanley S. Litow is visiting professor of the practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, a trustee of the State University of New York, president emeritus of the IBM Foundation, and a former deputy chancellor of schools for New York City. Tina Kelley is co-author of the bestseller Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope and a former New York Times reporter.

“Breaking Barriers is a compelling read. It shows that a clear pathway from school, to college, to career goes beyond an aspiration—it’s achievable, and for all students. The global success of P-Tech schools is something education, government, and business leaders need to learn about and get behind.”
—Arne Duncan, former United States Secretary of Education

“Breaking Barriers is a must-read. The P-Tech story shows that quality schools leading to not just a high school diploma but college completion and career success are critical to our future. This is the kind of opportunity and support that must be provided to all students, regardless of income or race.”
—Darren Walker, president, Ford Foundation

“Every child deserves a world-class education. It is important that we encourage new ideas that give parents realistic and better alternatives to prepare children for the jobs of the future. P-Tech schools not only expand educational opportunities, but also strengthen our economy.”
—Governor Larry Hogan

Contents (Tentative)

Foreword Randi Weingarten

Acknowledgments

1. What is P-TECH?
P-TECH’s Roots
The Context of the Concerns
A Sudden Green Light
Laying the Groundwork
Building More Partnerships
Preliminary Results
P-TECH and the Pandemic
A Broader View of Reform

2. High Expectations
Research on the Power of High Expectations
Expectations across Race and Class
How to Ensure High Expectations are Encouraged and Shared
When Principals Aim High
The Benefits of Dedicated Teachers
Takeaways

3. Elevating Equity
The Benefits of Same-Race Teachers
The Shortage of Teachers of Color
Rebuilding a Diverse Teaching Force (the next 8 fall under this)*
Life after School
P-TECH as a Step toward Equity
Student Recruiting at P-TECH Schools
No Barriers
Teacher Recruiting at P-TECH
P-TECH Teacher Retention
Removing Roadblocks to College
Tearing Down Walls around the Workplace
Takeaways

4. Rigorous Coursework Designed With College and Career in Mind
The Perils of Remedial College Work
Other Opportunities for Advanced Work*
Coursework Relevance
Pedagogy at P-TECH
Trying New Methods
Making Lessons Relevant
Project-Based Learning
Know Thy Students
Industry Challenges
Seamless Transition to College
Takeaways

5. Support for Learning
Extended School Year
Extended School Week or Day
Tutoring
*Monitoring Student Progress
Comprehensive Counseling
School Culture
Moving on to College
Parental Involvement
Student Behavior
Community Service
Peer Support among Students
Takeaways

6. Frequent Interactions with College and Business Partners
*The Role of the Colleges
*What Business Partners Do
ShuDon’s Story
Joel’s Story
Reaping the Benefits
Social Capital
*Time to Hire Graduates
When Collaborators Collaborate
Takeaways

7. Conscientious Leadership
School Leadership: Principals
P-TECH’s Founding Principal
Leadership in Other P-TECH Principals
Superintendents
Colleges
Moving Beyond the School Collaboration
Beyond Cities
Federal Leadership
P-TECH around the World

8. Opening a School
The Student
The Superintendent
The Principal
Summer
Autumn
The Steering Committee
Winter
Results

9. Lessons for Broader Reform
Overview of Education Reforms
Another Way to Create Change
Business Out of the Classroom?
Highlights from the Collaborations
Next Steps for Expansion

Conclusion

Afterword Rashid Ferrod Davis

Notes

Index

About the Authors