3+Big+Ideas+That+Drive+a+PLC

Focus on Learning

The fundamental purpose of the school is to ensure high levels of learning for all students. This focus on learning translates into four critical questions that drive the daily work of the school. In PLCs, educators demonstrate their commitment to helping students learn by working collaboratively to address the following critical questions:

1) What do we want students to learn? What knowledge, skills, and dispositions will each students acquire as a result of each course, grade level, and unit of instruction?

2) How will we know if they are learning? Are we monitoring each student's learning on a timely basis?

3) What will we do if they don't learn? What systematic process is in place to provide additional time and support for students who are experiencing difficulty?

4) What will we do if they already know it?

Build a collaborative culture
 * No school can help all students achieve at high levels if teachers work in isolation.


 * Schools improve when teachers are given the time and support to work together to clarify essential student learning, develop common assessments for learning, analyze evidence of student learning, and use that evidence to learn from one another.

Results Orientation
 * PLCs measure their effectiveness on the basis of results rather than intentions.
 * All programs, policies, and practices are continually assessed on the basis of their impact on student learning.
 * All staff members receive relevant and timely information on their effectiveness in achieving intended results.