Numerous districts are implementing Professional Learning Communities(PLCs as a part of reform efforts to improve student achievement to meet external accountability mandates Few districts however have considered the essential supports and components that teachers working in PLC require for these teams to result in instructional improvement. This study reports on the work of one mid-sized urban district that attempted to implement and support PLCs in deneloping essential PLC characteristics implementing an improvement process, and establishing an instructional goal research based practices shown facilitate improvement This disrict also provided professional development to teachers and administrators in the implementation process
Findings from this study atirm the research-based practices on which this district implementation plan was based while suggesting that additional school based conditions also needed to be in place: the provision of school based professional on PLCs, (2) a school culture focused on collaboration, and 3) a readiness by school leaders to engage in and communicate expectations for PLC work The study concludes by recommending that districts consider providing differentiated supports and target professional development schools during their first years of PLC among all PLC teams