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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 Promising Practices School

Thank you for your interest in applying to become a Promising Practices professional learning community (PLC). To receive this recognition, a school must:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to the PLC at Work® process.
  • Implement those concepts for at least one to two 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.

Promising Practices is an initial step in becoming a Model PLC at Work School, though it is not required. Our hope is that you will continue your PLC at Work journey with us and apply to become a Model PLC at Work® School or District when you are ready.

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 one to two years, with a basis of comparison between your school/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 are building 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. (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 uses to create and implement a guaranteed and viable curriculum. (Recommended word count is 150–500.)
  • Describe the strategies your school 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 one to two years of successful implementation and significant sustained improvement.
  • Provide a basis of comparison between your school and district and that of your state/province.
  • If submitting only one year of data, please submit local or campus assessment data compiled throughout the year.
  • 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.
  • Please feel free to modify the templates as needed to display your school’s data, if submitting two years of 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 support your school’s commitment to the PLC at Work® process.
  • Under “Resources”:
  • Include products that demonstrate your school’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:

  • 1-2 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 Promising Practices

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 Promising Practices Schools and 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.
  • Promising Practices School Digital Badge.
  • Promising Practices School Sample Press Release.
  • Promising Practices School Flag.
  • Promising Practices School 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 (EOE) 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.