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Key points:
- PLCs drive meaningful teacher growth and student success
- Key questions that unleash powerful PLCs
- Ethical PD: Doing right by the teachers who do right by the world
- For more news on PLCs, visit eSN’s Educational Leadership hub
K-12 teachers often seek meaningful ways to grow professionally, refine instructional strategies, and improve student learning outcomes. As the new school year approaches, one of the most powerful tools for continuous improvement is the professional learning community (PLC). When implemented effectively, PLCs foster collaboration, accountability, and a shared focus on student success.
Here’s an in-depth look at high-quality resources and actionable tips to help educators start or strengthen PLCs this school year.
Why PLCs matter
PLCs are not just staff meetings with a new name. They are structured, collaborative groups where teachers analyze student data, co-design curriculum, share challenges, and reflect on instructional strategies. Research underscores that schools with strong PLCs show significant gains in student achievement and teacher retention.
Whether you’re a new teacher hoping to connect with others or a veteran educator leading school-wide efforts, the following five resources and strategies can help your PLC thrive.
1. Solution Tree’s PLC Resources
What it is:
Often considered the gold standard in PLC training and resources, Solution Tree was founded by Dr. Richard and Rebecca DuFour and offers books, toolkits, webinars, and workshops that walk educators through the essential PLC process.
Key features:
- Free resources such as PLC implementation guides and team templates
- On-demand webinars from PLC experts
- Access to professional development workshops and virtual summits
- Rubrics to assess the effectiveness of your PLC
How to use it:
Start with the book Learning by Doing or access Solution Tree’s free videos on how to create team norms, identify essential standards, and use common formative assessments. Then, use their team tools to guide each meeting with purpose.
2. AllThingsPLC
What it is:
AllThingsPLC is a free online community and resource bank created by Solution Tree, designed specifically for educators implementing or improving PLCs.
Key features:
- Hundreds of downloadable tools (e.g., meeting agendas, SMART goals templates, common assessment protocols)
- A searchable database of successful PLC schools and their practices
- Forum discussions to connect with peers across the country
How to use it:
If you’re launching a PLC for the first time, explore sample school profiles to see how others have approached the process. Use their collaboration tools to structure your team’s weekly or monthly meetings.
3. TeachFX
What it is:
TeachFX is an innovative tool that uses artificial intelligence to record and analyze classroom conversations. It provides data on teacher vs. student talk time, questioning patterns, and engagement.
Why it matters for PLCs:
PLC teams often focus on improving classroom dialogue and student voice. TeachFX gives teachers real evidence to reflect on their instructional language, making it easier to bring authentic data to PLC meetings.
How to use it:
Use TeachFX with your PLC to analyze classroom discussions. Reflect as a team on patterns like student questioning or wait time, then strategize together on how to improve participation and inquiry-based learning.
4. Google Workspace and Jamboard
What it is:
While not PLC-specific, Google Workspace tools like Docs, Sheets, and Jamboard provide a simple, powerful digital infrastructure to support collaboration and shared leadership within PLCs.
Key features:
- Shared lesson plan templates and assessment trackers (Google Sheets)
- Collaborative notes from data meetings (Google Docs)
- Brainstorming or goal setting with Jamboard or Google Slides
How to use it:
Create a shared Google Drive folder for your PLC. Store meeting agendas, notes, curriculum maps, and assessment data all in one place. Use Jamboard during virtual or hybrid meetings for dynamic collaboration.
What it is:
Learning Forward is a nonprofit organization that advocates for effective professional development systems in schools. Their Standards for Professional Learning provide a research-backed framework for creating sustainable and equitable PLCs.
Key features:
- Detailed descriptions of the seven standards for professional learning
- Tools to evaluate and improve schoolwide PLC implementation
- Access to equity-focused webinars and instructional leadership strategies
How to use it:
Use their free Professional Learning Standards guide to audit the effectiveness of your school’s PLCs. Share the standards with administrators to align PLC work with district-wide goals for professional growth.
Tips for making your PLC work
No matter which resources you adopt, the success of a PLC depends on intentional, sustained effort. Here are five tips to make yours effective:
- Set clear norms and goals: Agree on how your team will collaborate and what outcomes you aim to achieve. Use goals to guide planning.
- Focus on student learning: Keep every conversation anchored in student needs and outcomes–not just instructional preferences or compliance.
- Use data wisely: Bring classroom evidence (test scores, participation patterns, student work) to meetings to make informed decisions.
- Share leadership: Rotate meeting facilitation and encourage each member to lead discussions or data dives.
- Celebrate progress: Acknowledge small wins, whether it’s improvement in student writing or a successful project. Recognition builds momentum.
PLCs are not a passing trend–they are a research-based method to drive meaningful teacher growth and student success. With the right tools and a shared commitment, K-12 educators can transform isolated classrooms into networks of innovation and support.
