Test-prep books for standardized tests can be expensive, but thanks to Breaking Book Barriers, they are now affordable. Breaking Book Barriers is an organization that strives to ensure that all students have access to test prep material and are well equipped to succeed on standardized tests. They have become a successful organization through their online book exchange, collaborating with other organizations and schools to do book drives, and posting test prep tips to social media.
Tanya Manoj, a 16-year old from Massachusetts, started this organization a year ago during her sophomore year of high school. Throughout high school, she been apart of organizations related to educational equity. With another passion for business, Tanya wanted to use her business skills to mitigate educational inequity.
Tanya soon realized how much prep books cost after taking standardized tests in high school. She wanted to help students to do their best when taking these tests, so she brainstormed ways to help them. Having access to test-prep books was a constant issue for many students, yet there are many students would would be willing to donate their books. Tanya created this organization by connecting the two sets of students and helping her community.
The organization's name, Breaking Book Barriers, shows its strive to "break the barriers that a lack of access to test prep materials bring about," Tanya says. They currently have over 110 users on their book exchange website with over 40 team members. Breaking Book Barriers has many collaborations with different education-related organizations.
In the fall, Breaking Book Barriers hopes to establish a chapter system, which will allow students to make a greater impact on their own communities. In addition, they plan to do more book drives to donate to nonprofits and school districts who could use more prep books.
Click here to view their website.
Click here to view their Instagram.