The Arkansas Department of Education, in partnership with Solution Tree, a national professional development provider, recently announced the fourth cohort selected for the Professional Learning Communities at Work® project.

Lake Hamilton Junior High was one of nine schools and two districts from around the state that were selected for the 2020-2021 school year and join the 29 schools and four districts chosen the last three years. As with the first three cohorts, each school and district in the fourth cohort will receive up to 50 days of training, coaching, and support to build and sustain a strong culture of collaboration that will enhance student learning.

Those chosen completed a rigorous application and evaluation process.

"I am always excited when we take a proven best practice model, implement it here in Arkansas, and see continued success,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “The PLC model is one of those examples. It has transformed the day-to-day operations and culture at schools around the state, leading to improved outcomes with student learning. Congratulations to this new cohort of schools selected to join the PLC family, and congratulations to the four schools from the first cohort that were selected as model schools for the state.”

“When I first attended a PLC institute several years ago, I immediately knew we needed to implement the model in Arkansas,” ADE Secretary Johnny Key said. “Not only is the PLC at Work model one of the most highly-recognized best practices in the country, it is backed by numerous years of research. Since launching the PLC initiative in Arkansas, we have seen teachers across multiple subject areas come together to collaborate, lead by example, and make needed changes that have transformed student learning at their schools. The work is hard, but the payoffs have been huge. Congratulations to the new cohort and to the four schools recently named model schools. You serve as leading examples for all schools in the state."

“Year after year we are continually impressed by the improvements and accomplishments of each cohort,” Solution Tree President and COO Ed Ackerman said. “We are thrilled to welcome nine additional schools and two districts to the project and begin helping them work collaboratively to build professional learning communities. When it comes to improving student education, we truly believe — and research and results show — there is no better approach.”

"We feel that our school was selected because of our commitment and dedication to improve student learning as evidenced through our ongoing collaborative work. This means everything to the staff and students here at LHJH. Our staff works extremely hard every day to ensure high levels of learning and growth for all students. The PLC Project grant will help us achieve that mission and in becoming a Model PLC School. This type of job embedded professional development, based on research, has proven to increase both student achievement and the professional growth of our teachers. We believe that teachers are the most influential factor in student achievement and should therefore be trained and coached in the most advanced and innovative researched-based practices to improve student learning. We feel that the PLC process will do just that!" Jason Selig, LHJH Principal

"We are very excited and feel quite fortunate to have another Lake Hamilton school to participate in this prestigious grant program in partnership with Solution Tree and DESE. We know that this experience will make us better teachers and leaders, ultimately improving student learning. We are looking forward to learning and growing along with Lake Hamilton Junior High School administrators, teachers, and staff in the practices of becoming a professional learning community. I congratulate Principal Jason Selig and his leadership team at the Junior High on their persistent pursuit of excellence in successfully writing and being awarded this extremely competitive grant." Shawn Higginbotham, LHSD Superintendent

The 2020-2021 schools and districts will be matched with a certified PLC at Work associate from Solution Tree and receive intensive job-embedded training, observation, and coaching. The schools and district will create action plans that focus on increasing student achievement through aligned curriculum, formative assessments, and proven instructional strategies. During the second year, the schools and districts will deepen their understanding and focus on implementing multi-tiered systems of support, followed by strengthening their systems and sustaining the process in year three.

Act 427 of 2017, which amended Arkansas Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(5), provides funding for the project. For more information, please visit the ADE website at https://bit.ly/2ugELNw and follow this project on social media at #PLC4AR.

Lake Hamilton School District

Junior High Selected for PLC at Work Grant