Franklin Special District’s recognition as a Model PLC at Work District reflects a sustained commitment to collaboration, continuous improvement, and high levels of learning for every student. This distinction, awarded by Solution Tree is based on clear evidence of improved student achievement, faithful implementation of Professional Learning Community practices, and a districtwide culture focused on learning, results, and collective responsibility.

From the AllThingsPLC website, to receive this recognition from Solution Tree, the authority on the PLC at Work approach, “a school or district must:

• Demonstrate a commitment to the PLC at Work process
• Implement the concepts for at least three years
• Present clear evidence of improved student learning
• Explain the culture, practices, and structures of the school or district and submit them for consideration to the PLC Review Committee using the online submission process
• Update school or district information and submit it for review, through the website, every three years to show the data continues to meet the criteria of the PLC at Work process”

Further, a school or district must provide the following:

• “The most recent, three consecutive years of data showing increased student achievement in main content areas (Math and Reading/English/ELA).
• … Data showing the progress made by traditionally underserved student populations (English learner, Economically Disadvantaged, students with disabilities).
• Data for each grade within the school or district. More than one type of assessment for each grade greatly strengthens the application.
• Supplementary data as appropriate.
• Two narratives, one detailing the “PLC Story” and the other explaining the “PLC Practices” that have been successfully and faithfully implemented. Both should incorporate the spirit of:
• The Three Big Ideas of a PLC (Focus on Learning, Collaborative Culture and Collective Responsibility, Results Orientation)
• The Four Critical Questions:
  • What do we want our students to know?
  • How will we know when they have learned it?
  • What will we do if they don’t learn it?
  • What will we do if they already know it?
• Details about the systems and processes in place, including schedules, agendas, norms, awards, etc.

This information helps the Solution Tree Evidence of Effectiveness Review Committee determine if the documentation demonstrates PLC Lite or PLC Right.  With PLC Lite, districts or schools adopt the idea and/or schedule of meeting to collaborate, but teaching and learning practices do not change. Thus, student achievement does not improve.  Educators work in isolation, and they may review data, but they do not identify next steps based on it. By contrast, PLC Right indicates that a school or district has not only implemented a collaborative format, but teachers commit to working together to guarantee high levels of learning for all students, identifying and utilizing essential standards, common formative assessments, collective data analysis, and timely interventions and enrichment as needed. Once the Model PLC at Work application is submitted, a panel of expert PLC at Work practitioners who currently hold leadership positions in school districts across the county uses the above criteria to assess each application.

In the FSD strategic plan, aspire 2029, under Goal 1, Academics, Academic Strategy 2 states that we will “Strengthen the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) process through professional learning and innovative teaching strategies.”  The third tactic for this strategy asserts that the district will “Strengthen the PLC process through the achievement of Model PLC at Work recognition for all schools and the district.” So far:

• Freedom Middle School was named a Model PLC at Work School in July 2024.
• Poplar Grove Elementary School was named a Promising Practices School (“Promising Practices is a solid initial step toward becoming a Model PLC at Work school. Promising Practices schools have strong evidence of the solid foundation required to become a Model PLC at Work and share at least one year of data that shows student achievement growth.”) in December 2024.
• Poplar Grove Elementary School was named a Model PLC at Work School in February 2025.
• Freedom Intermediate School was named a Model PLC at Work School in May 2026.
• FSD was named the second Model PLC at Work District in the state of Tennessee in May 2026.

These accomplishments and recognitions happened because the FSD as a system and educators, students, and parents as individuals are committed to the district’s brand promise:

Students First.

Excellence Always.

No Exceptions.

We celebrate these successes, thank the board and all involved for the support, and look forward as we strive to enhance our PLC at Work practices even more, with students at the forefront of all our endeavors.