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COVID-19 Data Expectations

Guide to Becoming a Model PLC at Work® School

Ready to Apply for PLC at Work Recognition?

Use the attached templates to provide student achievement data.

Already listed as a model PLC?
Already have an application started?

Overview for Recognition as a Model PLC at Work

Thank you for your interest in serving as a model professional learning community (PLC). To receive this recognition, a school or district must:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to the PLC at Work® process.
  • Implement those concepts for at least three years.
  • Present clear evidence of improved student learning.
  • Explain the culture, practices, and structures of the school or district, and submit it for consideration to the PLC Review Committee using our online submission process.
  • Update school or district information on the site every three years to show your data continues to meet the criteria of the PLC at Work® process.

Before You Apply

We recommend gathering the following information and documents before you begin:

  • Student demographic data.
  • Racial/ethnic percentages (if applicable).
  • Student achievement data for at least the past three consecutive years, with a basis of comparison between your school and district and that of your state/province.
  • Awards and recognition.
  • Team-produced artifacts that address the Four Critical Questions.

You will also need to prepare responses for the following:

  • In your “PLC story”
  • Tell us how you built shared understanding and commitment to the PLC at Work process. (Recommended word count is 250–750.)
  • Tell us how you are facilitating a culture of continuous improvement in your school or district. (Recommended word count is 250–500.)
  • Under “PLC Practices” answer these 3 questions:
  • Under “Monitoring Student Learning on a Timely Basis”
  • Describe the process that your school or district uses to create and implement a guaranteed and viable curriculum. (Recommended word count is 150–500.)
  • Describe the strategies your school or district uses to monitor student learning on a timely basis. (Recommended word count is 150–500.)
  • Under “Creating Systems of Intervention and Extension to Provide Students with Additional Time and Support for Learning”
  • Share how you are creating and implementing systems of intervention and extension to provide students with additional time and support for learning. (Recommended word count is 150–500.)
  • Under “Building Teacher Capacity to work as members of high-performing collaborative teams that focus efforts on improved learning for all students.”
  • Explain how your high-performing, collaborative teams focus their efforts on improved student learning. (Recommended word count is 150–500.)

Required for a Successful Application:

  • Under “Achievement Data”:
  • Ensure your student achievement data shows at least three consecutive years of successful implementation and significant sustained improvement.
  • Provide a basis of comparison between your school or district and that of your state/province.
  • Your application will be published on our website; please remove any student names or identifying data.
  • If you don’t have data for 2019-2020, please submit local assessments, or assessments used during that time frame. Click here for more info regarding COVID 19 data.
  • Use the attached templates to provide student achievement data.
  • Please feel free to modify the templates as needed to display most effectively your school’s or district’s data.
  • Promising Practices Achievement Data Template
  • K-2 Achievement Data Template
  • 3-5 Achievement Data Template
  • 6-8 Achievement Data Template
  • 9-12 Achievement Data Template
  • District Achievement Data Template
  • Under “Awards”:
  • List any awards and recognition that supports your school’s or district’s commitment to the PLC at Work process.
  • Under “Resources”:
  • Include products that demonstrate your school’s or district’s commitment to the PLC at Work process.
  • (i.e., shared foundation, team-produced artifacts that address the Four Critical Questions, schedules, mission statement, etc.)

Checklist:

  • At least 3 years of consecutive data showing student improvement.
  • If you don’t have data for 2019-2020, please submit local assessments, or assessments used during that time frame. Click here for more info regarding COVID 19 data.
  • Be sure to include data showing the progress made by traditionally underserved student populations (ELL, Economically Disadvantaged, SPED).
  • Confirm contact person and contact info are correct & up to date.
  • Please add AllThingsPLC@SolutionTree.com to your safe recipients’ list to ensure emails about your application are not blocked.
  • We encourage adding an additional contact for your school.
  • Additional contacts can be added from your Manage Schools page or it is an option after you submit your updated application.
  • Check that any files or hyperlinks included in your application are accessible.
  • When using hyperlinks, please confirm that access is set to anyone with a link, and/or saved in a location where people without your district email address can access it.

Tips for Submitting a Successful Application

Once you start the application process, you can save your work and come back to it at any time.

  • To access your saved application, sign in to Your Profile and click Manage Schools. You’ll be able to pick up on the step where you left off.
  • You will have the opportunity to review your completed application before it is submitted.
  • Please double-check that each required text box is filled out completely. Simply writing “see attachment” in a text box will not meet application requirements.
  • Before submitting your application, we recommend sending the application to several members of your team for review.
  • You can do this by copying the URL of the application preview in step 8.
  • After submitting your application, you will have the opportunity to add additional contacts, we recommend adding at least one additional contact person.

Apply for Model PLC at Work®

After You Apply

Our panel of expert PLC at Work practitioners will use the above criteria to assess each school or district. Please consider carefully whether your school or district meets each criterion. To see examples of what you’ll need to submit before you get started, visit the See the Evidence page to see applications of approved Model PLC at Work® Schools and Districts.

The time frame for applications to be reviewed averages between 4-6 weeks.

After the committee has reviewed your application, you will receive:

  • If Approved:
  • Email notifying you of approval.
  • Model PLC at Work School or District Digital Badge.
  • Sample Model PLC at Work Press Release.
  • Model PLC at Work Flag.
  • Model PLC at Work Certificate of Achievement.
  • Signed letter from CFO giving 1 free registration to any Solution Tree institute, summit, or workshop.
  • If an explanation of needed improvements or request for additional data is requested:
  • An email with a detailed Feedback Letter from the Evidence of Effectiveness (EOE) Review Committee.
  • You have the opportunity to speak with a member of the Evidence of Effectiveness Review Committee to clarify and discuss next steps
  • If your application is not approved, we encourage you to continue your school improvement efforts and resubmit another application in the future.

To Maintain Your Current Model PLC at Work® Status

Approved schools and districts must update their data every three years to maintain their Model PLC at Work® status.

To Access or Update Your Current Model PLC at Work® Application

  • To upload new data, sign in to Your Profile and then click Manage Schools.
  • Here you can access your existing application, make the necessary updates, and resubmit your application.
  • You can upload additional contact information at any time.
  • To do this, sign in to Your Profile, click Manage Schools, and then click Manage Contacts.

Need Help Accessing Your Application?

If you need help accessing your application, or if your Application Administrator has changed, we can help reset that for you.

  • The Application Administrator will need a (free) account on the AllThingsPLC website.
  • Please click Sign In to create a free account, if you don’t already have one
  • Please email AllThingsPLC@SolutionTree.com or click Contact Us at the bottom of the page.
  • We will need the name and email address of the person who will be the Application Administrator.
  • Please include the name of the school or district, the city, and state.