About PLCs

The 10 principles of effective PLCs

Found in all effective PLCs are 10 principles that bring together the best available research on school improvement:

1. Student learning focus: School improvement starts with an unwavering focus on student learning.

2. Collective responsibility: For every child to achieve, every adult must take responsibility for their learning.

3. Instructional leadership: Effective school leaders focus on teaching and learning.

4. Collective efficacy: Teachers make better instructional decisions together.

5. Adult learning: Teachers learn best with others, on the job.

6. Privileged time: Effective schools provide time and forums for teacher conversations about student learning.

7. Continuous improvement: Effective teams improve through recurring cycles of diagnosing student learning needs, and planning, implementing and evaluating teaching responses to them.

8. Evidence driven: Effective professional learning and practice are evidence-based and data-driven.

9. System focus: The most effective school leaders contribute to the success of other schools.

10. Integrated regional support: Schools in improving systems are supported by teams of experts who know the communities they work in.