The first in a series exploring each of Learning Forward’s seven Standards for Professional Learning, this book helps readers understand what it takes to establish and maintain professional learning communities (PLCs) so they increase educator effectiveness and provide the best outcomes for students. This definitive volume details how the Learning Forward standards for professional learning can be applied successfully in any school, and includes: • An original essay designed to stretch readers’ thinking by introducing the underlying theory, research, and practice behind learning communities • A guide to implementing the Learning Communities standard, with an overview of six critical attributes of PLCs and the seven-step cycle of continuous improvement • A case study of the district-wide implementation of PLCs, containing detailed analysis of what worked.