Written for primary and secondary school administrators and teacher leaders, Accelerating Student and Staff Learning presents a powerful model for professional development centered around conversations about curriculum. The author shows how school leaders can raise student performance by focusing the attention of professional learning communities (PLCs) on curriculum design. The book emphasizes the essential role of leaders in nurturing, inspiring, and challenging PLCs to engage in the critical work of curriculum design that is built around the following activities:



- Developing common understanding of the standards and concepts students are to learn


- Developing common annual work plans or curriculum maps


- Designing aligned assessments


- Collecting and using data to differentiate instruction and extend learning opportunities for all learners


- Using the data to make ongoing modifications in the work of PLCs