Disrupting Poverty: Five Powerful Classroom Practices

Drawing upon decades of research and myriad authentic classroom experiences, Kathleen M. Budge and William H. Parrett dispel harmful myths, explain the facts, and urge educators to act against the debilitating effects of poverty on their students. They share the powerful voices of teachers—many of whom grew up in poverty—to amplify the five classroom practices that permeate the culture of successful high-poverty schools: (1) caring relationships and advocacy, (2) high expectations and support, (3) commitment to equity, (4) professional accountability for learning, and (5) the courage and will to act.

Readers will explore classroom-tested strategies and practices, plus online templates and exercises that can be used for personal reflection or ongoing collaboration with colleagues. Disrupting Poverty provides teachers, administrators, coaches, and others with the background information and the practical tools needed to help students break free from the cycle of poverty.

Kathleen M. Budge brings a blend of 26 years of practical experience as a teacher and administrator combined with more than a decade of work dedicated to bridging the gap between the university and the teaching profession. She is an associate professor of Educational Leadership and chair of the Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies Department at Boise State University, where her research focus on poverty, rural education, school improvement, and leadership development. Budge is coauthor (with William Parrett) of the 2012 award-winning book Turning High-Poverty Schools into High-Performing Schools, and the video series, Disrupting Poverty in Elementary and Secondary Classrooms.

William H. Parrett has received international recognition for his work in school improvement related to children and adolescents who live in poverty. He has co-authored nine books; three recent books are best-sellers. The award-winning Turning High-Poverty Schools into High-Performing Schools, coauthored with Kathleen Budge, has provided a Framework for Action that has been adopted throughout the United States to guide lasting improvement and student success in high-poverty schools.