Print-friendly Version


Related Board Policy and R&P

Board Policy 5040: Professional Learning Teams

R&P 3610                                    Professional Learning Teams                                R&P 3610

R&P 4510                                                                                                                  R&P 4510

R&P 5040                                                                                                                  R&P 5040

 

 

A Professional Learning Team (PLT) demonstrates the following characteristics:

1. Shared vision and values 

2. Supportive conditions  

3. Shared leadership 

4. Collaborative culture 

5. Collective inquiry  

6. Focus on results

The professional learning team collaborates to answer the questions: (a) what is it that we want students to know, (b) how do we know if they know it, (c) what do we do if they don’t know it or do know it? (DuFour and Eaker, 1998)

 

PLT Day

Every PLT Day the bell will ring one hour early for the departure of students.   Professional learning teams should begin after the staff’s responsibility for the safe departure of students has been completed.  A professional learning team meeting should last for an hour but can be extended by the consensus of the team.

 

Early Release Day

The Board will approve early release days per calendar/track. On early release days, the bell will ring two and one half hours early for the departure of students.  Early Release Day professional development and collaboration should begin immediately after the staff’s responsibility for the safe departure of students has been completed.  The professional development and collaboration should extend for three hours (not including time for lunch). It is the expectation that staff remain on campus for lunch.

 

Implementation Plan

The principal and the School Improvement Leadership team shall create a Professional Learning Team Implementation Plan and schedule.  It should include defining the professional learning teams that will operate for the year, assigning staff members to teams and scheduling meetings for the teams.  The Implementation Plan should include processes for establishing norms, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, and a method to make those items available to staff members.  Information will be made available to the school community using a variety of media, such as, newsletters, school messenger, including the school website.

 

No student activities should occur during early dismissal or early release time without approval by the principal due to an extenuating circumstance.  Post-PLT student activities must be approved by the principal in collaboration with the school leadership team.  Students involved in activities that begin after PLT time will be supervised.

 

No off-campus meetings or sessions requiring the attendance of school-based staff should occur on any PLT Day. Applying the definition of a professional learning team, principals may approve staff participation in regional or district teams.

 

 

DuFour, R., &  Eaker, R. (1998). Professional learning communities at work: Best practices for

            enhancing student achievement. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.

 

Adopted: July 21, 2009