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Texas Tech University Research on PLC at Work® Process

In a significant advance for educational research, Texas Tech University has unveiled findings confirming the benefits of Solution Tree's PLC at Work® process, highlighting its impact on student growth and teacher retention across Texas schools. This analysis, consisting of three comprehensive reports, demonstrates that schools utilizing the Model PLC at Work designation outperform their peers on various academic and retention measures.

Key Findings of the Research

The reports, which employed administrative data from the University of Houston Education Research Center (UH-ERC), drew comparisons between Model PLC at Work schools and other non-designated institutions. Key metrics included student demographics, types of districts, and State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) proficiency rates for the year 2023. Importantly, all findings adhered to the ESSA Level 2 (Moderate Evidence) criteria, verifying their reliability in real educational settings.

Improved Academic Performance

The research revealed four significant outcomes indicating enhanced academic performance:
1. Higher Proficiency Rates: Students in Model PLC at Work schools exhibited significantly elevated proficiency rates in core subjects, including reading, math, and science for grades 3 through 8, surpassing state averages.
2. Socioeconomic Needs Considered: Remarkably, these students consistently achieved better scores than the statewide averages, even when factoring in socioeconomic status. This points to the model's effectiveness in supporting all learners, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
3. Additional Learning Gains: The study uncovered that students in Model PLC at Work schools gained an average of 3.1 months of additional learning in math and 1.8 months in reading compared to their matched peers in non-Model PLC at Work schools. As time progressed, these academic gains became even more pronounced.
4. Closing Achievement Gaps: Of particular note, economically disadvantaged students in Model PLC at Work settings gained about 4.0 months in math proficiency, while English learners improved their reading skills by an average of 3.5 months more than their counterparts in non-designated schools.

Teacher Retention and Turnover

In addition to student performance, the study assessed teacher retention rates and found two noteworthy observations:
1. Lower Turnover Rates: Model PLC at Work schools maintained teacher turnover rates lower than the Texas state average, with a notable difference of up to seven percentage points over three years post-implementation.
2. Stable Workforce: Upon adopting the PLC at Work framework, turnover rates remained steady rather than escalating, which is an encouraging sign of stability typically not seen with new initiatives. Furthermore, the teachers who departed were often those deemed least effective, while highly effective teachers chose to remain, positively influencing student outcomes.

Quotes from Educational Leaders

Dr. Cameron Rains, CEO of Solution Tree, stated, "This research confirms what educators across the country have seen firsthand. When schools operate as true professional learning communities, student success accelerates—especially for those historically underserved."

Defining a Model PLC at Work® School

The PLC at Work process fosters a culture of collaboration among educators, promoting collective inquiry and actionable research to elevate student outcomes. Schools aspiring for the Model PLC at Work designation must demonstrate exemplary implementation of these principles and show measurable improvements in student achievement over a minimum of three years.

For those interested in learning more about this study and its outcomes, the full evaluation summary and the three reports are accessible at Solution Tree's website.

About Solution Tree

With over 26 years of experience in transforming education, Solution Tree empowers educators worldwide to enhance student achievement. Hosting over 60,000 educators annually at professional development events, and facilitating more than 12,000 days of in-school training, Solution Tree confronts significant challenges faced by educators. They offer an extensive catalog of over 600 educational titles, numerous video resources, online courses, and their online learning platforms, Global PD Teams and Avanti, dedicated to supporting teachers and administrators.

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