A Professional Learning Community (PLC) is a new strategy for teacher professional development which breaks patterns of isolation typically seen at traditional secondary schools. Instead of a teacher closing their door and running their own show the best that they can each day, AISD is providing training and support to teacher teams to create Professional Learning Communities, small groups of teachers who meet regularly, discuss lessons, share new learning, work with student data, observe each others' classrooms and provide feedback in order to improve what they do in their classrooms everyday, encouraging all students can learn more and perform better in school.

Researchers from Stanford University have shown that Professional Learning Communities create new school climates of shared learning and openness. Teachers who have formed these groups successfully report more excitement for learning amongst their students and their peers.

In the fast-paced information era that we live in, keeping pace with change is a challenge for traditional school environments. PLC's are one critical strategy that AISD has chosen to provide the skills, support and learning that teachers and students need in order to succeed in the 21st century economy.