Missouri Professional Learning Communities

Building a sustained culture for learning in Missouri schools
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About Us
The mission of Missouri Professional Learning Communities is to build a sustained culture for learning in Missouri schools through the Professional Learning Communities' process.

 It is our vision to
  • be a nationally recognized model for a statewide school improvement initiative.
  • be a respected authority for establishing a focus on learning, creating a collaborative culture, and developing a results orientation in schools.
  • be reputable, trained, and credible experts who provide high quality professional development.

 

In order to achieve this vision, we collectively commit to:

WHEN DID PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES BEGIN IN MISSOURI?

 

The Missouri Professional Learning Communities Project, a state-sponsored initiative for school-improvement, began during the 2003-2004 school year.  This PLC Project evolved from the Missouri Accelerated Schools Project which had served as a school reform initiative for many years.  During the 2007-2008 school year, the professional learning communities state-wide staff nearly doubled in number and is currently serving schools in all parts of the state. 

WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY?

Professional learning communities see student learning, not teaching, as their mission. The policies, instruction, curriculum, programs, professional development, and other functions of the school all support student learning.  In maintaining this constant focus on learning, four questions become paramount:

1. What should students know and be able to do?

2. How will the school determine that students have learned

    the essential knowledge and skills?

3. How will the school respond when students do not learn?

4. How will the school respond when they already know it?

 

The state PLC school-improvement model focuses on increasing student achievement by building the capacity of school personnel to create and sustain the conditions that promote high levels of student and adult learning.