This document gives a basic outline regarding the district’s PLC policy and expectations for staff members to follow.  PLCs (professional learning communities) are a highly effective method of strengthening best teaching practices across a school district, as well as promoting uniform planning & instruction, assessment strategies, and data analysis.  Ultimately, the purpose of effective PLCs is to ensure equity and equality for all students in our schools. 

PLC Framework

Carbon County School District No. 2 adopted the PLC process fairly recently, with early efforts started in the 2014-2015 school year, and continues to refine and strengthen effective practices for collaborative work among its educators.  Preparation and training to help the district strengthen our PLC initiatives have included district leaders attending the PLC Summer Institute: Improving Student Learning through PLC Collaboration, held in Sheridan during the summer of 2016, and a district staff training with Solution Tree and Dr. Anthony Muhammad: All Things PLC, held in Laramie in the spring of 2017.  We follow the Learning by Doing model for best practices, and regularly promote the following prompts to help drive PLC meeting agendas: Learning for all?  Collaborate on common goals.  Compare student evidence for planning.

Because of the size of our district, many teachers in specific grade levels or content areas work solo in their buildings, without another PLC group member physically with them in their school.  Traditionally, PLC groups meet monthly through Google Hangouts, although CCSD2 recently piloted face-to-face PLC gatherings in lieu of Hangout calls.  For the 2019-2020 school year, PLC meetings will primarily be conducted face-to-face at various times throughout the year.  In addition to these scheduled physical meetings, PLC groups are also encouraged to communicate and meet electronically, via email, phone, Google Hangouts, and so on.  Our teachers also share mapping, resources, assessments, and other work using Schoology Groups, as well as Google Office Suite applications including Shared Drives.

2019-2020 PLC Meeting Expectations:

• PLC attendance is required.  First absence will result in a face-to-face meeting with the school principal.  Further absences may result in disciplinary actions.
• No personal days will be granted on district in-service dates.
• For the 2019-2020 school year, CCSD#2 is piloting a new PLC meeting schedule: rather than meet electronically once a month, PLC’s will meet face-to-face during various times throughout the school year. 
• PLC group members are expected to arrive to meetings punctually, be wholly present, and contribute equally with discussions and work when developing curriculum, district assessment system (DAS) items, etc.
• PLC minutes (meeting notes) must be recorded and uploaded onto Google Team Drive or Schoology following each of the assigned meeting dates below.  This task should be rotated amongst PLC group members.
• PLC groups are expected to meet and communicate beyond these assigned dates, through email, phone, Google Shared Drive, Google Hangouts, Schoology, etc.

PLC Meetings Overview:

For each date listed above, half the day will be reserved for PLC meeting time (approximately 3 hours) and half the day will be reserved for district-sponsored intervention and assessment PD (approximately 3 hours).  PD times/focus may change as the year progresses, depending on expressed needs of staff.  Specific details will be shared as we approach each PLC meeting date.

Sample PLC Agenda & Norms

District Expected Norms--Add more if necessary

• Confidential
• Share thoughts openly without judgement
• Meet on Time and End on Time
• 45 Min PLC -- 1st and 3rd Wednesday -- Before/After School
• Agenda on Monday – or before
• When agreement is not evident –
• Wait to next meeting to revisit issue.
• Come to decision or consensus. 
   

Director of Curriculum
Noel Manning, M.A.Ed.

Contact information: nmanning@crb2.org