The Relationship Between Professional Learning Communities and Student Achievement in High Schools

1. March 2006
Professional Learning Communities 1
The Relationship Between
Professional Learning
Communities and Student
Achievement in High Schools
A Proposal Defense
by
Teresa A. Hughes

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Professional Learning Communities 2
Defense Format
I. Purpose of Study
II. Research Questions
III. Significance of the Study
IV. Review of Literature
V. Research Design

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Professional Learning Communities 3
I. Purpose of the Study
The purpose is threefold:
1. Identify school leaders who are
implementing professional learning
communities.

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Professional Learning Communities 4
Purpose of the Study
2. Identify the level that each school is
functioning as a professional learning
community.

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Professional Learning Communities 5
Purpose of the Study
3. Identify whether student achievement in
mathematics and reading/English
language arts Texas Assessment of
Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores has
occurred as a result of professional
learning communities.

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Professional Learning Communities 6
II. Research Questions
1. To what degree does a principal rate
their school as functioning as a
professional learning community?

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Professional Learning Communities 7
Research Questions
2. Is there a relationship between student
achievement, based on mathematics2 and
reading/English language arts3 TAKS
scores, and the degree the school is
functioning as a professional learning
community?

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Professional Learning Communities 8
Key Terms
 Effective Leaders
 Learning Organizations
 Professional Learning Communities
 Reculturing

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Professional Learning Communities 9
III. Significance of the Study
 Knowledge gained from the study will
provide educational leaders information
about student achievement as it relates to
learning communities.

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Significance of the Study
 The principal’s processes for effecting
change, when creating professional
learning communities, could impact
educational leader preparatory programs
and principal expectations.

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Professional Learning Communities 11
Significance of the Study
 As schools are recultured and the teacher
role changes within a professional learning
organization, teacher preparatory
programs might be influenced.

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IV. Review of Literature
 A Historical Perspective of Reform
 The Learning Organization
 Professional Learning Communities
 The Role of the Teacher in a
Professional Learning Community
 The Role of the Principal in a
Professional Learning Community
 Conclusion

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Review of Literature
 A Historical Perspective of Reform
Frederick Taylor
The Excellence Movement
A Nation at Risk
Goals 2000 – Educate America Act
No Child Left Behind

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Professional Learning Communities 14
Review of Literature
 A Historical Perspective of Reform
The Effects of Reform Efforts
In the United States, the education reform
movement has focused increasingly on the
development of new standards for students
(Darling-Hammond, 2004).

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Professional Learning Communities 15
Review of Literature
 A Historical Perspective of Reform
The Effects of Reform Efforts
“More and more educators are understanding
that piecemeal reform too often produces a
confusing and inefficient proliferation of programs
that generate resource battles, reinforce inequity,
and ultimately help only a few students” (Legter,
1999).

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Professional Learning Communities 16
Review of Literature
 A Historical Perspective of Reform
The Effects of Reform Efforts
The problem with reform is not the lack of
innovation or creativity, but the massive overload of
fragmented, uncoordinated, and ephemeral
attempts at change (Fullan & Miles, 1992).

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Review of Literature
 A Historical Perspective of Reform
The Effects of Reform Efforts
“…that forming a community of learners for
teachers is a powerful strategy for enhancing
teacher commitment” (Hausman & Goldring, 2001).

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Review of Literature
 The Learning Organization
Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline
Personal Mastery
Mental Models
Shared Vision
Team Learning
Systems Thinking

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Professional Learning Communities 19
Review of Literature
 Professional Learning Communities
Shared Mission, Vision, and Values
Collective Inquiry
Collaborative Teams
Action Orientation and Experimentation
Continuous Improvement
Results of Orientation

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Professional Learning Communities 20
Review of Literature
 The Role of the Teacher in a
Professional Learning Community
 Communicator
 Collaborator
 Change Agent
 Life-Long Learner
 Leader

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Professional Learning Communities 21
Review of Literature
 The Role of the Principal in a
Professional Learning Community
Self-Efficacy
Results
Sustaining Leader

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Professional Learning Communities 22
Review of Literature
 Conclusion
“The current factory-model school, while seemingly
efficient, is, in fact, grossly inefficient,
inappropriate and ultimately inequitable, as it
requires that all children adapt to the
mean…Individualizing instruction for each
learner is no longer a dream – it is an
educational birthright for all children” (Fulton,
2003).

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IV. Research Design
 Research Methodology
Correlational Research
Descriptive Statistics

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Research Design
 Correlational Research
Independent Variable – principal score on
survey
Dependent Variable(s) – mathematics and
reading/English language arts TAKS scores

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Research Design
 Subjects of the Study
Principals at regular instruction public high
schools, in Texas, that are functioning as
professional learning communities.

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Research Design
 Instrumentation
School Professional Staff as Learning
Community
Pilot Test and Field Test

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Professional Learning Communities 27
Research Design
 Instrumentation – Reliability and Validity
Descriptive Statistics
Internal Consistency Reliability Coefficient
Stability (test-retest) Reliability Coefficient
Content Validity
Concurrent Validity
Construct Validity
Factor Analysis

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Research Design
 Analysis of Data
Quantitative data will be derived from the
survey.

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Professional Learning Communities 29
Research Design
 Analysis of Data
Quantitative data will be collected on student
achievement in mathematics and
reading/English language arts.

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Professional Learning Communities 30
Research Design
 Analysis of Data
A Pearson r correlation coefficient will be
calculated to determine if a relationship
exists.

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Professional Learning Communities 31
Research Design
 Analysis of Data
Multiple regression analysis will be used and
a Pearson r correlation coefficient will be
calculated.

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Professional Learning Communities 32
The Relationship Between
Professional Learning
Communities and Student
Achievement in High Schools
A Proposal Defense
by
Teresa A. Hughes