PLC roundup (expect updates to this one)

Here's a summary of my posts to date on the concept of professional learning communities.

Professional learning communities kicked off the discussion, explaining the blend of professional development, school culture, planning and leadership that make up the PLC concept. (4/22/09)

PLCs: more on what they take noted argued that educators' collaborative work, so distinctive in learning communities, is what energizes them to do deep, effective work with students. (4/23/09)

Common assessments (SISI, PLC's) noted an EdTrust study of high schools with strong records of raising student achievement--a study that illustrated the core principles that make PLCs effective. (4/28/09)

Archimedes, assessment, and learning communities suggested that the assessment "lever" only works if it rests on something like a PLC "fulcrum." (5/11/09)

Report and dissent: Teaching quality and NGA shared concern that the National Governors Association did not list PLC practices as a main strategy for strengthening our education workforce. (5/13/09)

The Strategies counted PLCs as part of what's need to complete the high hopes launched by Brown v. Board. (May 16, 2009)

PLCs inside the black box goes back to the findings in the great Clements & Kannapel report and notes how their high performing, high poverty schools embodied PLC traits. (5/21/09)

Top systems, learning communities, and SB 1 standards notes PLC evidence built into How the world's best-performing school systems come out on top, the powerful 2007 report from McKinsey & Company. (6/14/09)

Blogger side note: this post is also the start of an experiment with blog organization. While keeping the main list of categories very short, I want a way for readers to see the sequence on topics that come up regularly. Also, when I blog on a recurring topic like this, I want a single to connect the new post to the related earlier ones. My plan is to update this post as I add thoughts about the PLC concept, so that it offers one-stop access to the whole discussion. I hope it's helpful!