Becoming a PLC is no small feat—it requires years of collaboration and commitment. In this powerful guide, discover ten evidence-based actions to help move your school teams beyond “PLC Lite,” and center student agency and efficacy in curriculum, assessment, instruction, and intervention practices. Access sample rubrics, protocols, and templates designed to build a culture of continuous improvement. This book will help K–12 educators: Learn the ten essential actions to elevate their PLC to the next level - Encourage meaningful student participation through the gradual release of responsibility model - Understand how to evaluate diverse student feedback - Design curriculum and assessments centered on student agency and well-being - Work with the four critical questions of intervention - Explore how the three big ideas of a PLC intersect at the teacher, student, and school levels Contents: Introduction: Moving Beyond the Futility of PLC Lite Chapter 1: Efficacy: The Tie That Binds the Three Big Ideas of a PLC at Work Chapter 2: Focus: Taking Theory to Practice Chapter 3: Action 1: Defining Student Success Chapter 4: Action 2: Creating an Enduring Skills-Focused Curriculum Chapter 5: Action 3: Creating Skills-Focused Proficiency Scales and Rubrics Chapter 6: Action 4: Utilizing Evidence-Based Assessments Chapter 7: Action 5: Creating a Skills-Focused Scope and Sequence Chapter 8: Action 6: Aiming for Evidence-Based Instruction Chapter 9: Actions 7 and 8: Implementing Evidence-Based Grading and Reporting and Restructuring the Gradebook Chapter 10: Action 9: Stressing Feedback and Reflection Chapter 11: Action 10: Responding to Students’ Learning Stories Epilogue: Build a New School, Build a New Future? Appendix References Index “There has yet to be a guide like Beyond PLC Lite, which makes a distinct contribution to the field by taking the audience through a journey that breaks collaborative teams away from deeply entrenched grading and assessment practices, ensuring they operate as part of a true, high-functioning professional learning community.” — Christie Shealy , Director of Testing and Accountability, Anderson School District One, Williamston, South Carolina “The authors do a wonderful job of starting the book off with the need for student agency and efficacy, and the directions and tools provided throughout each chapter help readers know how the PLC process leads to high-level action. This book will be a tremendous resource for teams that are already deep in the PLC process but need to go back and revise their practices to make the learning and culture even better.” — John Unger , Principal, West Fork Middle School, West Fork, Arkansas “Beyond PLC Lite is my new go-to playbook for supporting teams transitioning from only sharing ideas and practices to using student evidence to make better decisions about teaching and learning. The authors are practitioners who provide actionable steps, resources, and reproducible tools that are easy to use and can be immediately implemented.” — Wendy Custable , Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois “Reading Beyond PLC Lite changed me. It helped me to see that professional learning communities cultivate connection and self-regulation, fostering a positive self-concept among educators, laying the foundation for stronger social connections and effective communication, and paving the way for meaningful student relationships. Enhanced by focused feedback mechanisms, these communities are pivotal in elevating educational outcomes.” — Kristie Wheeler , Principal, Bloomington Hills Elementary School, Saint George, Utah Eric Twadell is the superintendent of Adlai E. Stevenson District 125 in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Prior to his role as superintendent, Dr. Twadell served Stevenson as a social studies teacher, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent for leadership and organizational development. Stevenson High School recently received its fifth National Blue Ribbon Award and is one of only six schools to win the United States Department of Education (ED) National Blue Ribbon Award on five different occasions. Stevenson was also one of the first comprehensive schools designated as a New American High School by ED as a model of successful school reform. Stevenson has been described by the United States Department of Education as “the most recognized and celebrated school in America.” In the popular press, Stevenson High School has been repeatedly cited as one of America’s top high schools and the “birthplace” of Professional Learning Communities at Work®. Mark Onuscheck is director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He is a former English teacher and director of communication arts. As director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, Mark works with academic divisions around professional learning, ar