Secretary Jacob Oliva, from the Arkansas Department of Education, stopped by Northside High School on Monday, May 8, 2023, to offer his congratulations on Northside’s completion of their Model Professional Learning Community (PLC) program.

Northside High School earned the prestigious “Model PLC School” designation in 2020, making the school the first high school in Arkansas to be awarded that designation. To be named a model school, a school must demonstrate its commitment to PLC concepts; implement those 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 be considered for the recognition; and update school or district information on the site each year to show continued progress in meeting the PLC at Work criteria.

To increase student achievement, Northside created action plans through an aligned curriculum, formative assessments, and instructional strategies.  The school staff deepened their focus, understanding, and implementation of multi-tiered support systems and learned how to strengthen those support systems while sustaining the process in the final year of the program. Act 427 of 2017, which amended Arkansas Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(5), provides funding for the project.