Professional Learning Communities PLCs
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Professional Learning Community (PLC)
The Kershaw County School District is committed to student learning and achievement. One way we will work to improve student learning is by providing time for teachers to participate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) through dedicated 40-60 minute, late-start Wednesdays. PLCs on late-start Wednesdays provide teachers with sustained and uninterrupted collaborative time to focus on increasing student achievement and school improvement initiatives of the district.
Why not early releases?
Numerous Kershaw County School District teachers are coaches or club advisors, as well as participants in other extracurricular programs. When teachers are missing from their PLC group, it hampers the group's ability to achieve the goals of the PLC and ultimately diminishes the effectiveness of the development of the building as a whole. At the secondary level, many students participate in extracurricular activities and tend to remain in their school until practice, which may result in interruptions to PLC groups. In addition, early releases still would cause transportation and/or childcare issues for working families.
Why can’t teachers meet during their planning period?
Teacher planning time varies from teacher to teacher, and groups of teachers from a grade level or department are unable to have the sustained and uninterrupted meeting time that is required for effective PLCs.
Do other school districts utilize delayed starts or early releases?
Many nearby districts provide teachers with collaborative time through either late starts or early releases.
Before school programming on delayed start Wednesday
Students who choose to arrive at school on time will participate in learning-focused activities under the supervision of KCSD paraprofessional staff. Learning-focused activities include computer lab educational support, homework help, art, independent reading, story time, and math games.
Transportation on delayed start Wednesdays
Buses and car rider drop off lines will run on time on Wednesdays. Parents who utilize the car rider line can bring their children to school 4at the regular start time or at the delayed start time on Wednesdays.
Delayed Start Wednesdays and extracurricular programs
Students at the secondary level attend all of their classes, and elementary students receive instruction in all core subjects on PLC Wednesdays within the modified day. Students are released at the normal time, they receive both breakfast and lunch, and all after-school extracurricular programs run as normal.