Using P-16 Professional Learning Communities to Facilitate Partnerships and Improve Teaching and Learning
The Partnership for Reform in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) is a comprehensive NSF-funded MSP project with state and regional partners. The state partners include the University System of Georgia, the public higher education state agency, and the Georgia Department of Education, the K-12 state agency. Four regional P-16 partnerships include at least one institution of higher education (IHE) and one K-12 system. The IHEs include major research universities, regional universities, state universities and two-year college partners. The 15 K-12 systems range from large urban to small rural districts.
A major goal of PRISM is to increase the quality of science and mathematics teaching in Georgia. One strategy is to implement school, district and cross-district level Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). These PRISM PLCs may focus on mathematics, science or both, but the goal is to have at least one higher education (IHE) science or mathematics faculty member working with each PRISM PLC. This paper will describe some preliminary research on the effectiveness of PRISM PLCs and the impact of K-12 and IHE partnerships fostered through PLCs.
