Blog
New Study Highlights Importance of Collaborative Inquiry
A study from the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE), published last November, offers school perspectives on the benefits of New York City’s data-informed collaborative inquiry process. Since 2006, policymakers have been refining a citywide collaborative inquiry model in which… Read more
Prerequisites for Standards-Based Reporting
As we work with schools and teams that are doing the work associated with implementing professional learning community concepts and practices, we are often asked, “Don’t we need to . . . Read more
From the PLC Summit: DuFour’s New Assessment Resource
Rick DuFour kicked off day two of the Summit here in Phoenix with the release of a new assessment resource called a Data Analysis Protocol (PDF). It’s a worksheet that teams can use to ensure . . . Read more
Congratulations Marc Johnson! 2011 AASA Superintendent of the Year
Earlier today we featured the great success of the Sanger Unified School District. Sanger was chosen by the DuFours because in 2003, Superintendent Marc Johnson had a vision—to improve . . . Read more
Districtwide Implementation of the PLC Process: Sanger Unified School District
When Sanger USD in Sanger, California, was placed in Program Improvement because of consistently low student achievement, Superintendent Marcus Johnson made it clear that the strategy… Read more
New Article: Teacher Collaboration Can’t Be Voluntary
In a new article, "Work Together: But Only if You Want To," published in the February issue of Phi Delta Kappan, Rick DuFour argues that collaboration among educators cannot be a . . . Read more
From Lowest in District to Best in State: Lakeridge Junior High School
In 2002, Lakeridge Junior High in Orem, Utah, was the lowest performing junior high school in the Alpine School District. When the staff committed to full implementation of the PLC process, student achievement began… Read more
Stop Sliding Away...
You know the feeling. You have created the structures for collaboration in your school. You have provided teams with the time and tools to collaborate, defined the work, and checked for consensus . . . Read more
Going From Good to Great: Robert Frost Junior High School
Congratulations to Robert Frost Junior High School, this week's AllThingsPLC featured school! Rick and Becky DuFour had wonderful things to say about this shining example of PLC progress… Read more
Collective Merit Pay: Supporting Collaboration Over Competition
Kildeer Countryside Consolidated School District 96 was engaged in contract negotiations throughout the 2009–2010 school year. The economic climate coupled with increased accountability requirements contributed to a different landscape than in years past… Read more
Demographics Are Not Destiny: Stults Road Elementary School
Congratulations to Stults Road Elementary, this week’s AllThingsPLC featured school! The following is what Rick and Becky DuFour had to say about this shining example of PLC progress: . . . Read more
Sustainable Improvement: Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Over the next few weeks, AllThingsPLC will feature the work of five schools chosen by Rick and Becky DuFour as models of PLC achievement. This is what the DuFours had to say about this week’s school… Read more
The Seven I’s
As principal of Viers Mill Elementary School in Montgomery County, Maryland, from 1997 to 2005, I learned a great deal about the benefits of operating as a professional learning community (PLC). As a community, we tried to keep our focus on the four critical questions… Read more
What Do We Do When They Haven’t Learned?
The implementation of a PLC is not a silver bullet, but a pathway to follow in working to ensure student learning. Implementation requires dedication and a focus on desired learning outcomes as teams work to answer the four key questions that guide a PLC... Read more
Promoting Social and Emotional Learning Within a PLC
Who among us doesn’t remember Stuart Smiley, Al Franken’s character from Saturday Night Live (“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”) While Stuart may not have been able to help Michael Jordan develop a stronger sense of self-esteem… Read more