This study determined how general education teachers in a Midwestern school district
perceived their personal skill level in working collaboratively and focusing on academic
results while working in a Professional Learning Community (PLC). The overarching
question for the research was: Do educator perceptions of their personal skill level in
working collaboratively and focusing on academic results while implementing a
Professional Learning Community have an effect on student achievement? The study
looked at teacher perceptions within the three themes of PLCs: (a) assuring students
learn at high levels, (b) creating a culture of collaboration, and (c) focusing on academic
results. Student achievement data, reported through Criterion Referenced Test scores
(CRTs) and linked to individual teacher survey responses, were studied to determine if a
relationship existed between teacher perceptions and student learning.
This mixed-methods research study used a survey design approach to gather data
of teacher perceptions of the PLC Process. The survey allowed participants (n = 247) to
indicate their perceptions and give detailed descriptions of both the strengths and needs
within each theme of PLCs. Data was collected electronically with all survey responses
being used in the final statistical analysis of the study.
The major finding in this study was that teachers in the Midwestern school district
perceived they have strong skill levels within all three themes of PLCs and find it