Cedar Falls Community School District - Professional Learning Community

1002 West First Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 • 319-553-3000 • Mr. Mike Wells, Superintendent

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It is the policy of the Cedar Falls Community School District not to illegally discriminate in either: its educational programs on the basis of race, religion, creed, socioeconomic status, color, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or genetic information; or its employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ethnic background, age, disability, or genetic information. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district's Equity Coordinator, Dr Adrian Talbot, Director of Human Resources, James L. Robinson Administrative Center, 1002 West First St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, 319-553-3000.

Creating Teacher Collaboration Time within a Professional Learning Community

This outcome has six required actions: All educators will . . .

1. Form and maintain collaborative teams
2. Gain awareness of the Characteristics of Effective Instruction (CEI)
3. Deepen their understanding of the Characteristics of Effective Instruction (CEI)
4. Strengthen district and building Professional Development (PD) plans
5. Engage in Professional Development in support of the Characteristics of Effective Instruction (CEI)
6. Implement appropriate elements of the Characteristics of Effective Instruction (CEI)

What is a PLC?

A Professional Learning Community is not a program, a structure, or a procedure.
It is a team of people working together to improve student achievement by collecting and analyzing data, studying and collectively implementing strategies.
The goal is NOT to become a Professional Learning Community.
The goal is to improve student learning.

The “Working Units” of a Professional Learning Community are collaborative teams. For collaborative teams to be effective . . .

Then, Cedar Falls educators must…

1. Be guaranteed regularly occurring time to meet

2. Receive timely PLC training: roles, processes, expectations

3. Understand the Iowa Core, align the intended curriculum, and remain commit6ted to delivering a guaranteed and viable curriculum

4. Use student learning data and the Characteristics of Effective Instruction to increase achievement

5. Understand how their actions connect to the district’s mission

To help achieve the goal of improved student learning, the Cedar Falls Community School District is proposing the following plan for 2012-2013:

Create schedules that will provide opportunity for collaboration.
Develop collaborative teams within each building
Provide initial training to all staff on group norms and the Professional Learning Community process
Identify and communicate expectations for each collaborative team.
Create ongoing training opportunities during implementation.

Secondary Schedule Proposal:

90-minute late start one day a week (Tuesday) dedicated exclusively for collaborative team work

Elementary Schedule Proposal:

Wednesday early dismissal moved to 1:30 p.m. (current dismissal is 2:15 p.m.)

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