Advancing Student Achievement in High Performing Schools: An Analysis of How Educational Leaders Can Leverage Professional Learning Communities and Achievement Level Descriptors for Data-Driven Instruction

Educational leaders seek to implement new research-based strategies and initiatives that support teachers in increasing student achievement. Data-Driven Instruction (DDI) is one such proven method in growing student achievement (Gangadharan, 2014; Halverson et al., 2015; Shaw, 2017). One notable trend is the use of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) as a means of facilitating DDI, and the use of PLCs over time is instrumental in sustaining DDI practices that increase student achievement (Bianco, 2010; Monceaux, 2017). In this study, the researcher determined if such structures have an impact in increasing scores in already high-performing schools, a configuration less studied in the literature versus low-performing schools. The purpose of this study was to assess teacher and educational leader perceptions of PLC implementation and compare it to the standardized test performance of high-achieving students to determine a correlation between DDI practices and advancing high-performing schools. A survey was administered to ascertain the perception of classroom teachers who volunteered to participate within a high-performing school distinct in South Louisiana. Additionally, five interviews with key district-level and school-level educational leaders were conducted. School and distinct level performance scores on required standardized state tests were also analyzed in conjunction with survey and interview data to create a comprehensive view of how PLC practices have impacted learning for students who are already meeting proficiency levels. This current study built upon longitudinal data in accordance with the district’s long-range plan for PLC implementation by examining the PLC initiatives that were newly implemented by the district (IGPs and ALDs). This study provided a potential model of a school district’s implementation of PLCs.