Partners in Learning
Learning to Lead Change: Building System Capacity

Leadership for Change Library

Breakthrough
Michael Fullan, Peter Hill, Carmel Crévola
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press; Toronto, Canada: Ontario Principals’ Council, 2006
109 pages

Breakthrough is about attaining full success in teaching and learning using literacy as a case in point — moving from, say 75% students achieving high standards of proficiency by the age of 11, to 95%. The book combines the change ideas of Fullan with the literacy strategies developed by Hill and Crévola in order to create a comprehensive framework for system transformation.

The point of departure of the model is the Triple P Core Components:

• Personalization (serving every child)
• Precision (timely, specific connection to the learning needs of each child)
• Professional learning (every teacher learning every day)

The goal is how to accomplish the three P's in a way that is practical and feasible for the entire system.

A second core element of Breakthrough is the Critical Learning Instructional Pathways (CLIP) model Crévola and Hill have developed from their work in classrooms, schools and districts. CLIP provides ideas and tools for moving learning from early to highly proficient self-learners.

The overall framework that supports the Triple P and CLIP system in action contains six intertwined elements:

1. Assessment literacy
2. School and classroom organization
3. Classroom teaching
4. Professional learning communities
5. Intervention and assistance, and
6. Home school and community partnerships

The final chapter focuses on leadership at all levels of the system. Drawing on their work in change and system improvement in Australia, Canada, England and the U.S., Fullan, Hill and Crévola map out the nature of leadership that will be required to get and sustain breakthrough results.