Inside Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable: 30+ Years of College Access and Education Advocacy
This past spring at NPEA25, we had the chance to sit down with Thom Butler, who leads the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable (PCPR).
If you’ve ever worked in college access in Philly, chances are you’ve felt PCPR’s influence—even if you didn’t realize it. For more than 30 years, PCPR has been the space where counselors, educators, and community partners swap ideas, learn from each other, and push for what’s best for students.
Here’s how it all got started—and why the work still matters right now.
From Parking Lot Conversations to a Citywide Network
PCPR’s story begins in 1992, in a parking lot outside a School District of Philadelphia meeting.
After attending district meetings, Thom and a small group of college access practitioners would gather and talk through what they heard—and, more importantly, what they didn’t hear. They noticed major gaps:
-
Students weren’t always being centered in decision-making
-
Families lacked access to accurate information
-
College access professionals had few places to collaborate
Those parking lot debriefs turned into the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, built around a simple but powerful idea:
Create a community of people committed to helping students get to and through college.
A Professional Development Home for College Access
PCPR doesn’t run direct services for students. Instead, it supports the adults who support students: counselors, nonprofit staff, advisors, and higher ed partners.
Early on, PCPR recognized two major challenges:
-
Students were receiving incomplete or outdated information.
-
Many programs didn’t have the budget for ongoing professional learning.
Their solution became a PCPR hallmark: turnaround training.
Whenever a PCPR member attends a conference or workshop, they return and share what they learned with the network. This keeps Philadelphia practitioners current on:
-
FAFSA changes
-
College admissions updates
-
Financial aid requirements
-
Best practices in persistence and advising
PCPR evolved into a grassroots professional learning hub that ensures students get the right information at the right time.
Partnering With the School District & Influencing Policy
A major shift came in 1999, when the School District of Philadelphia received its first GEAR UP grant. Thom joined the district and made sure the district formally became part of PCPR.
From there, the Roundtable went from being an outside voice to a key partner in shaping the city’s approach to postsecondary success.
When Mayor Michael Nutter prioritized college attainment, PCPR had a seat at the table with policymakers and higher education leaders—helping guide efforts around FAFSA completion, college-going culture, and student success after high school.
What began as a parking lot conversation became a voice in citywide strategy.
Rebuilding and Rising Again
When Thom later moved to Atlanta, PCPR had to decide whether to keep going. They did—but activity slowed as people’s roles and lives shifted.
When Thom returned to the work, PCPR rebuilt from the ground up: meetings, emails, community connections, and shared purpose. From that foundation, the Roundtable grew again.
Today, PCPR is once again:
-
A trusted connector among schools, nonprofits, and colleges
-
A source of reliable, timely college access information
-
A voice in policy and systems conversations across Philadelphia
Why PCPR’s Story Matters for Students and Families
Most students and families will never attend a PCPR meeting, but they feel the impact every day:
-
Counselors have up-to-date information about college and financial aid
-
Community programs receive training without major PD costs
-
Citywide FAFSA and scholarship efforts are more coordinated
-
Students receive more consistent, accurate guidance
PCPR is part of the behind-the-scenes work that strengthens the entire ecosystem around college access.
Honoring the Work & Building What’s Next
Hearing Thom Butler share PCPR’s story at NPEA25 reminded us that college access in Philadelphia didn’t happen by accident. It was built—intentionally—by people who shared what they knew, listened, collaborated, and stayed committed for decades.
The journey of PCPR—from a handful of educators talking in a parking lot to a citywide network—is a story of:
-
Vision
-
Collaboration
-
Persistence
-
A deep love for Philadelphia’s students and families
At PhillyGoes2College, we’re proud to stand alongside PCPR and continue expanding college access and opportunity across our city.
Learn More & Join PCPR
If you’re an educator, counselor, college access professional, or caring adult who wants to stay connected, PCPR welcomes you.
👉 Learn more and become a member:
https://www.collegepreproundtable.org/memberinfo
Watch the Full Interview
See the full conversation on our YouTube channel and don’t forget to subscribe for more college, career, and community stories:
Watch here: https://bit.ly/4im1xNv
This past spring at NPEA25, we had the chance to sit down with Thom Butler, who leads the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable (PCPR).
If you’ve ever worked in college access in Philly, chances are you’ve felt PCPR’s influence—even if you didn’t realize it. For more than 30 years, PCPR has been the space where counselors, educators, and community partners swap ideas, learn from each other, and push for what’s best for students.
Here’s how it all got started—and why the work still matters right now.
From Parking Lot Conversations to a Citywide Network
PCPR’s story begins in 1992, in a parking lot outside a School District of Philadelphia meeting.
After attending district meetings, Thom and a small group of college access practitioners would gather and talk through what they heard—and, more importantly, what they didn’t hear. They noticed major gaps:
-
Students weren’t always being centered in decision-making
-
Families lacked access to accurate information
-
College access professionals had few places to collaborate
Those parking lot debriefs turned into the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, built around a simple but powerful idea:
Create a community of people committed to helping students get to and through college.
A Professional Development Home for College Access
PCPR doesn’t run direct services for students. Instead, it supports the adults who support students: counselors, nonprofit staff, advisors, and higher ed partners.
Early on, PCPR recognized two major challenges:
-
Students were receiving incomplete or outdated information.
-
Many programs didn’t have the budget for ongoing professional learning.
Their solution became a PCPR hallmark: turnaround training.
Whenever a PCPR member attends a conference or workshop, they return and share what they learned with the network. This keeps Philadelphia practitioners current on:
-
FAFSA changes
-
College admissions updates
-
Financial aid requirements
-
Best practices in persistence and advising
PCPR evolved into a grassroots professional learning hub that ensures students get the right information at the right time.
Partnering With the School District & Influencing Policy
A major shift came in 1999, when the School District of Philadelphia received its first GEAR UP grant. Thom joined the district and made sure the district formally became part of PCPR.
From there, the Roundtable went from being an outside voice to a key partner in shaping the city’s approach to postsecondary success.
When Mayor Michael Nutter prioritized college attainment, PCPR had a seat at the table with policymakers and higher education leaders—helping guide efforts around FAFSA completion, college-going culture, and student success after high school.
What began as a parking lot conversation became a voice in citywide strategy.
Rebuilding and Rising Again
When Thom later moved to Atlanta, PCPR had to decide whether to keep going. They did—but activity slowed as people’s roles and lives shifted.
When Thom returned to the work, PCPR rebuilt from the ground up: meetings, emails, community connections, and shared purpose. From that foundation, the Roundtable grew again.
Today, PCPR is once again:
-
A trusted connector among schools, nonprofits, and colleges
-
A source of reliable, timely college access information
-
A voice in policy and systems conversations across Philadelphia
Why PCPR’s Story Matters for Students and Families
Most students and families will never attend a PCPR meeting, but they feel the impact every day:
-
Counselors have up-to-date information about college and financial aid
-
Community programs receive training without major PD costs
-
Citywide FAFSA and scholarship efforts are more coordinated
-
Students receive more consistent, accurate guidance
PCPR is part of the behind-the-scenes work that strengthens the entire ecosystem around college access.
Honoring the Work & Building What’s Next
Hearing Thom Butler share PCPR’s story at NPEA25 reminded us that college access in Philadelphia didn’t happen by accident. It was built—intentionally—by people who shared what they knew, listened, collaborated, and stayed committed for decades.
The journey of PCPR—from a handful of educators talking in a parking lot to a citywide network—is a story of:
-
Vision
-
Collaboration
-
Persistence
-
A deep love for Philadelphia’s students and families
At PhillyGoes2College, we’re proud to stand alongside PCPR and continue expanding college access and opportunity across our city.
Learn More & Join PCPR
If you’re an educator, counselor, college access professional, or caring adult who wants to stay connected, PCPR welcomes you.
👉 Learn more and become a member:
https://www.collegepreproundtable.org/memberinfo
Watch the Full Interview
See the full conversation on our YouTube channel and don’t forget to subscribe for more college, career, and community stories: Watch here: https://bit.ly/4im1xNv
