The power of professional learning communities

Many school districts across the United States are creating Professional Learning Communities; where a group of educators get the opportunity to meet on a regular basis to work collaboratively and improve both teaching practice and student achievement. This review examines the impact that Professional Learning Communities have on teaching practices, student achievement, and school culture. This review focuses on research that has been collected from 18 different studies within the past 10 years. The research evidence suggests that Professional Learning Communities can have a positive impact on both teaching practice and student achievement when there is a focus on what the students are actually learning rather than what is being taught. This review discusses the aspect of an effective PLC and how to create an environment where the focus is on student learning, and includes recommendations for future research