Professional Learning Communities

Numerous Mason teachers are coaches, club advisors, or participate in other extracurricular programs. When teachers are missing from their PLC group it hampers the group's ability to achieve the goals of the PLC, and ultimately diminishes the effectiveness of the PLC time. At the secondary level, many students participate in extracurricular activities, and tend to remain in their school or loiter around town until practice, which may result in interruptions to PLC groups and disruption to local businesses. Also, early releases still would cause childcare issues for working families. 

Afternoon half days do not provide the frequency of meetings needed to provide PLC groups with the ability to meet the rapidly changing needs of students who need differentiation, remediation, or advancement. Also, half days tend to be disruptive to students with special needs who need routine schedules, students are not provided lunch on half days, and they cause hardship to families of students who participate in after-school extracurricular programs.

Teacher planning time varies from teacher to teacher, and groups of teachers from a grade level or department are unable to have the sustained and uninterrupted meeting time that is required for effective PLCs. 

Many nearby districts provide teachers with collaborative time through either late starts or early releases. 

For families that are in critical need for care during late start, we will provide supervision at Alaiedon, Steele, North Aurelius, and Mason Middle School on "delayed start" Wednesdays. Parents may bring their student(s) to school between 7:30 a.m. and no later than 8:45 a.m. Students participate in learning focused activities, under the supervision of paraprofessional staff.  Learning focused activities include Computer Lab Educational Support, Homework Help, Art, Independent Reading, Story Time, Math Games, etc.

On PLC Wednesdays only, the 3- and 5-day Kids' Clubhouse morning program is extended by one hour at no additional cost, and students are transported to their buildings one hour later than the usual time. There isn't a Wednesday morning only option.

Students at the secondary level attend all of their classes, and elementary students receive instruction in all core subjects on PLC. Wednesdays within the shortened day. Students are released at the normal time, they receive both breakfast and lunch, and all after-school extracurricular programs run as normal.  

All Things PLC

The Business of PLCs

A New Way of Thinking: Schools as Professional Learning Communities

A Big Picture Look at Professional Learning Communities

What is a PLC?

PLC Definition

Best Practices for Professional Learning Communities

About Professional Learning Communities - Video