The relationship between departments as professional communities and student achievement in secondary schools

• Published in: Teaching and teacher education Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 722 - 731
• Main Authors: Lomos, Catalina, Hofman, Roelande H., Bosker, Roel J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Communities of Practice; Correlation; Departments; Foreign Countries; Mathematics; Mathematics Instruction; Mathematics Teachers; Multivariate Analysis; Netherlands; School Effectiveness; Secondary Schools; Student achievement; Subject departments; Successful schools; Teacher Collaboration; Teacher professional community; Teachers; Teaching; Teams; Teamwork; Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study; Netherlands; Successful schools; Secondary schools; Teacher professional community; Student achievement; Subject departments
• ISSN: 0742-051X; 1879-2480
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tate.2010.12.003

Secondary school teaching is organized in departments and effective departments functioning as collaborative teams have been associated with effective schools. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship of mathematics departments perceived as professional communities and student achievement in Dutch secondary schools. Cluster analysis and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) were used on a sample of around 3000 students, 130 schools, and 130 teachers that participated in this study (TIMSS-2003 data). The significant effects found (effect size >.20) show that those departments that focus on reflective dialogue, collaborative activity, shared vision and student achievement are associated with successful schools and higher student achievement. ► Departments as professional communities have significant effects on student success. ► Mathematics departments as professional communities in Dutch secondary schools. ► .24 effect size of department professional community on student achievement. ► Hierarchical linear modeling, professional community and student achievement.