Mental health and well-being significantly impact students' academic performance, social interactions, and school engagement. Partnering with communities can enhance the effectiveness and reach of mental health initiatives and supports within educational settings. By collaborating with community organizations and agencies, schools can augment…

Notable gaps in academic literature exist as it pertains to understanding the influence of institutional characteristics on modality enrollment patterns in the community college environment. Given these gaps, this study examined whether institutional control, locale, and size could serve as predictors of whether a community college is more…

In "Liberating the Classroom," Tessa Hicks Peterson shows how universities can transform into places that directly disrupt injustice and work toward personal and collective liberation. Instead of reproducing social inequity, higher education institutions could become engines of healing. This transformation, however, requires a major…

Author Mario I. Acosta emphasizes the critical importance of school culture in enhancing student learning and optimizing teacher efficacy. In this guide, he defines and examines the foundations of an effective school culture and how it influences the school's vision, values, climate, and community and family involvement. With research-backed…

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) provide the best setting for building collective teacher efficacy (CTE). CTE has been identified as having the highest positive effect on student achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions of teachers and administrators regarding the effectiveness of PLCs for building…

The Family Stabilization Initiative (FSI) Sustainability Toolkit was developed by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago in partnership with Lutheran Services in America. Chapin Hall designed and implemented a multifaceted approach to gain comprehensive understanding of the FSI and its core sustainability components. The Sustainability Toolkit…

A portion of state-allocated funding for Texas community colleges has been reserved for the completion of outcome metrics, also known as performance-based funding. Texas community college leaders are faced with the challenges of adapting to increasing pressures from performance-based funding, while also ensuing institutional missions and goals are…

This study investigates the impact of Communities of Practice (CoPs) on the professional development of Chinese teachers, focusing on collaborative learning, skill development, and job satisfaction within the unique cultural context of Chinese education. Using a mixed-methods longitudinal design, the research spanned 18 months and involved 135…

This playbook addresses the "how" in the continuous improvement process, focusing on schools and communities. It is a step-by-step guide for superintendents, principals, staff, and communities on how to engage in the school continuous improvement cycle while recognizing the unique assets and challenges of communities and their schools.…

Author Brig Leane introduces the PLC Dashboard, a tool designed to help administrators and teachers efficiently implement the PLC at Work® process. This resource utilizes a seven-step learning cycle, complete with illustrative examples, concise templates, and reflective exercises. The dashboard helps clarify and strengthen the PLC process to…

Designed to empower today's K-12 school leaders, this book will help you develop and implement a robust, systemwide approach to fostering structured and impactful Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Grounded in extensive research, the VITAL (Visibly Improving Teaching and Learning) Collaboration methodology offers school leaders a…

This resource will help leaders transform organizations and systems into thriving ecosystems of learning and growth where every student can succeed. Why do some school systems and organizations outperform their peers despite using similar strategies and materials? Look to leadership, system design, and implementation, not policies and rules, and…

This practical guide helps principal supervisors develop effective strategies to hire, support, and retain strong school leaders. The authors provide intentional strategies for building collaborative teams, offering professional development, and providing ongoing feedback to ensure principals thrive and foster high-performing, data-driven schools.…

Across the country, school district superintendents are transforming into community school leaders. Responsible for systems of learning that also include school nutrition, bussing, safety, finances, community engagement, and so much more, superintendents recognize that they need a different strategy to effectively address the learning needs of the…

This study identified the experiences of middle school teachers in the Southeastern Louisiana participating in professional learning communities, using the social constructivism theory. The study uncovers the various factors that are present that influence instructional practices and student learning outcomes. Ten middle school teachers engage in…