Creating Professional Learning Communities

Truly successful school districts and schools have taken on the qualities of professional learning communities although they may not have done so deliberately. Adult centered institutions that value teaching more than learning and that blame the victims (students, parents, the community, etc.) for low performance are all too common. Changing these schools to student centered environments with positive cultures that emphasize student learning is extremely vital to increased student achievement. Research again points to a body of knowledge and specific actions that districts and schools can take to change into effective high achieving learning environments where all children can learn and flourish.