H.W. Harkness Elementary returns to Rising From the Margins with something to celebrate, what their PLC work has made possible for students and staff. In the most recent episode, educators from H.W. Harkness (Sacramento City Unified) share how a deep commitment to professional learning communities transformed their school culture from isolation and blame into shared responsibility, reflection, and real collaboration. The result: recognition as a PLC Promising Practices School, grounded in both stronger collaborative structures and improved student outcomes.

You’ll hear teachers describe what changed day to day, weekly PLC time that’s purposeful and structured, honest conversations about what’s working (and what isn’t), and a mindset shift toward “what can we control as adults?” Most powerfully, the episode connects that adult shift to student impact, including reported gains like +7% ELA proficiency, a 20% reduction in students reading far below grade level, and a 4% decrease in suspensions. If you’re looking for a hopeful, practical story about how schools can get better, this episode is for you.

Related Resources:

• Accelerating Academic Achievement through CCEE’s Intensive Assistance Model
• Hot Topics: What CCEE is Learning About Deep System and Instructional Recovery
• Hot Topics: Why School District Turnaround Takes Time—and What CCEE Is Doing About It
• Rising from the Margins Podcast: Sacramento City Unified (H.W. Harkness Elementary)

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