A BluePrint for Success: Case Studies of Successful - Educational ...

A Blueprint for Success
II — Breakthrough Saint Paul
National Breakthrough Collaborative
2051 Larpenteur Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55109
651-748-5504 (v) 651-777-8633 (f)
http://www.breakthroughsaintpaul.org
Emily Wingfield, Executive Director
ewingfield@breakthroughsaintpaul.org
Breakthrough Saint Paul (BSP) represents a relatively new
program that has developed additional supports for its cohorts
of students as they advanced through the K-12 pipeline and
then into college. Intentional, data-supported improvements
and new programmatic components have been brought online
yearly as the program has developed in parallel to the students
it serves. By documenting the process, including data collection
protocols, student outcomes data, and program implementation
details, BSP has been able to develop a guide book
for successful program development to support students from
middle school through to college. BSP is currently developing
a program to support the cohort in college to ensure college
graduation.
Program Overview
Breakthrough Saint Paul has a dual mission: 1) It launches
low-resourced middle and high school students from the Saint
Paul Public Schools on the path to college by helping them
succeed in academically rigorous courses, and 2) It attracts a
diverse group of talented young people to pursue careers in
education. Breakthrough Saint Paul (BSP) accomplishes both
of these missions at the same time with a program model of
“students teaching students,” which is common to all 34 pro-
GENERAL INFORMATION:
§ Program began operation in 2005
§ This is a Partnership Program
§ This is a community-­‐based program
§ This program operates during the:
☐ Academic Year
☐ Summer
þ Both
§ Services are provided during
☐ Regular school hours
þ After school hours
þ Weekends
§ Services students in: Saint Paul Public
Schools
§ Urbanicity: Urban area
§ Duration of Program: 6th through
12th grade
§ Typical number of years students are
in the program: more than 5 years
§ Primary services are provided at:
Elementary or secondary schools
§ Grade level when students enter the
program: 6
§ Students served:
o 2008-­‐09 = 137
o 2009-­‐10 = 187
§ Parental Component: Yes. FAFSA
counseling/guidance; Participation in
student activities
§ Program Funding Provided By: State
Government; Local School System;
Business/Industry; Private
Foundation; Individual;
College/University; Fundraising
§ Targeted Populaton: Low income;
Gifted/talented students; Historically
underrepresented minorities; ESL
students; First generation to attend
college; Middle school students
grams in The Breakthrough Collaborative. At BSP, academically motivated, under-resourced middle
and high school students from the Saint Paul Public Schools take classes that are designed and
taught by talented and diverse high school and college students (called “aspiring teachers”). A team
of professional mentor-teachers and a dedicated staff guide the aspiring teachers and oversee the entire
process.
Educational Policy Institute 10 www.educationalpolicy.org