The Professional Learning Community (PLC) Imperative: how schools navigate the dynamics of systemic and school-based demands in PLC implementation

ACT ED-UC Affiliated Schools Research Program 2021-2023

The ACT Education Directorate’s “Future of Education” strategy recognises Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) as a key school improvement strategy, integral to empowering learning professionals and has mandated PLC implementation in all schools. The Directorate acknowledges the pivotal role school leaders play in creating cultures that enable powerful professional learning (PL) through PLCs, however their implementation seems inconsistent. Systemic PLC approaches need to align more closely with the literature which identifies the variables influencing effective PLC implementation and school improvement.

This study is investigating the experience of a group of ACT public school leaders and teachers navigating the systemic imperative to implement PLCs within the leadership demands of their own schools. Using a case study approach, this project investigates experiences of developing PLCs, including an examination of the factors which enable and impede their implementation. Ultimately, this study aims to provide system-level recommendations to best support school leaders and teachers to optimise the potential of PLCs in ACT public schools.

This study utilises a multiple case study approach to collect qualitative data, including a case study of six schools drawn from the UC Affiliated Schools (UCAS) program. In responding to the research questions, the project will gather the perceptions of a range of school-based and system-level stakeholders.

Data collection will occur in three sequential stages, with data from the previous stage impacting the refinement of the semi-structured interview questions in the subsequent stage.

• Stage One – capturing system-level data
• Stage Two:
  1. capturing school-level data from teachers
  2. document analysis illustrating school-based interpretation of the PLC imperative
• Stage Three - capturing school-level data from school leaders

• A report to the ACT Education Directorate will be produced to provide recommendations for PLC implementation and system improvement in 2024.
• Presentation of findings at two national/international conferences will occur throughout 2022/2023.
• Publications of articles in two international Q1 journals in 2023/2024.

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