Annual Report 2005-2006 - Farmington Public Schools

Professional Learning Communities improvestudent learningFarmington Public Schools is committed to the process of reaching every child. The guidingprinciple of a Professional Learning Communities (PLC) is that the purpose of school is to ensurehigh levels of learning for all students. The District recognizes the increased demands forexcellence for all students. It is becoming more proficient in using data to guide teachers tobetter meet specific learning goals for each child. Two years ago, the District initiated “Zapthe Gap,” a framework to further focus all of these efforts toward reaching every childand helping them succeed. Caring and Collaborating for Learning is the focus forprofessional development during the 2006-07 school year. Collaboration is at theheart of professional learning communities and increased student achievement.Using data and feedback are essential for identifying student needs and supportingstudent success. Utilizing research proven teaching and learningstrategies, known as best practice, are also an integral part of thisprocess for increased learning.In an effort to focus on student learning, four critical questions arepresented within the Professional Learning Communities framework:1) What is it that we want students to learn?2) How will we know that they have learned it?3) How can we intervene if a student isn’t learning?4) What will we do if they already know the content?Answers to these questions are addressed through alignment ofcurriculum to state standards, benchmarks, and Grade LevelContent Expectations; the examination of student data; system ofinterventions; and acceleration strategies.Superintendent Sue Zurvalec speaks to astudent on her visit to Forest ElementarySchool.4Students at the summer program, Camp Invention, take a minute away from their experiments to posefor a picture.