The purpose of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) is to increase students’ academic achievement by creating a collaborative school culture focused upon student learning.

Beginning with the first Wednesday January 9, 2008, Hickory will be ending 45 minutes early at 2:28 p.m. Hickory Kindergarteners will still get out at the same time 2:00 p.m. Every Wednesday throughout the rest of the school year, school will end 45 minutes early (2:28 pm) at Hickory.

Your child will not be losing any instructional time because of PLCs. Elementary Schools in TUSD have historically had one-hour early dismissal days scattered throughout the school year for staff development and retention conferences. With the PLC model there will be one week of early dismissals for parent conferences in December and one week in March. Your child will have almost the exact same number of instructional minutes per year as required by state law as in past years.