Download CLEAR's PCL Model

The Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (PCL) model is a school improvement initiative dedicated to increasing student achievement developed by Linda Dorn  at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.  The model uses literacy as a tool for measuring school improvement in four interrelated areas:  student learning, teacher perceptions, school climate, and school processes.  There are four essential components within the school:  classroom literacy framework, school-embedded professional development, intervention programs for struggling learners, and accountability and research.  PCL represents a dynamic, continuous relationship between a school’s literacy program and the educational agencies and policies that influence school improvement.  The power of the model is symbolized in a partnership design that acknowledges school change as a dynamic, continuous process that requires commitment and collaboration at many levels.

A goal of the Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy model is to develop a seamless transition across school programs, curriculum approaches, and assessment systems. An emphasis is placed on creating professional communities within schools where teachers collaborate on teaching and learning issues. The PCL model supports student achievement across the grades and across all content areas.