PEBC strives to create schools and systems worthy of our children. Forged in Denver in 1983, the Public Education & Business Coalition represents a convergence of stakeholders keen to uplift learning opportunities for each and every student. Today, PEBC collaborates with teachers, schools and districts nationwide catalyzing high quality instruction.

PEBC’s origins date back to 1983 and the release of the Nation At Risk report by The National Commission on Excellence in Education. The Commission believed that the public education system was failing to meet the national need for a competitive workforce. With funding from the Ford Foundation, several communities created local education funds to concentrate efforts on quality teaching initiatives.

Initially PEBC’s focus was on supporting teachers with literacy and reading comprehension instructional practices. In 1997, PEBC staff published the ground-breaking book Mosaic of Thought: Teaching Comprehension in a Reader’s Workshop, by Ellin Oliver Keene and Susan Zimmermann, which drew thousands of teachers to Denver wanting to work with and observe PEBC staff applying literacy best practices in their own classrooms. The organization expanded its efforts to coach teachers nationally, and created its highly-respected PEBC Lab Classrooms. In 2004, PEBC expanded its focus to include professional learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) instructional best practices and launched the PEBC Teacher Residency teacher preparation program (formerly the Boettcher Teacher Residency which merged with Stanley Teacher Prep in 2015).

Today, PEBC has grown into an organization with an unrivaled reputation for its professional development model, its publications, and the expertise of its staff. In 2020, PEBC staff published their Teaching Framework through the book Phenomenal Teaching.

PEBC is headquartered in Denver, CO, and works both locally and nationally. Its Board is comprised of business executives, community leaders, and school superintendents.