Implementing Professional Learning Communities in the Social Sector to Improve Students' Educational Outcomes

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Beyond the Gap: Generating Opportunity in High-Poverty Schools

Abstract

“Westside”, a marginalized community within a major metropolitan city, is scarred by decades of racism, disinvestment and isolation resulting in high rates of poverty and students leaving high school unprepared for college or career. “The Zone”, a collective impact partnership comprised of a university, nonprofits and local schools, offers a powerful framework for community partners to engage in professional learning, reflect on practices, and to use data to implement interventions and improve program effectiveness to meet shared goals. Through our work, we have identified conditions necessary for population change through the use of Professional Learning Communities within a collective impact framework. While our work focused on Westside, we believe these results can be generalized for application within similar communities.

Authors

• Erin Crosby, Southern Methodist University

• Dana Stoltz Gray, Southern Methodist University

• Jennifer Culver, Southern Methodist University