Characteristics Associated with Improving Schools
Glickman, Gordon, & Ross-Gordon, 2001

There are several characteristics associated with improving schools:

  • varied sources of leadership (including teacher leadership)
  • consideration of individual school context and culture
  • parental involvement
  • shared vision with continuous revisions
  • external and internal support, including time, moral, and technical support
  • focus on teaching and learning
  • ongoing professional development
  • instructional dialogue
  • teacher collaboration
  • democratic, collective inquiry
  • integration of improvement efforts into a coherent program
  • data-based feedback on improvement efforts

Many of the characteristics of improving schools are present in professional learning communities. These commonalities contribute to the success of professional learning communities, and professional learning communities help to establish successful schools with improved student learning.