September 28, 2026

What is early-release Wednesday all about?

Scott Joseph, Associate Superintendent of School Improvement

Have you ever wondered why Holland Public Schools students are released early on Wednesdays? Why does the district set aside an hour each Wednesday for teachers to meet in PLC (Professional Learning Community) teams, and why we believe that time is so important? 

  • At its heart, the answer is pretty simple: teamwork.

A Professional Learning Community (PLC) is a team of educators who work together with a shared focus on student learning and success. During PLC team meetings, grade-level or department teams identify the most important standards students need to learn, develop common ways for students to demonstrate their understanding, and then look together at the results. Those assessments are not always traditional tests as they may be projects, classroom tasks, writing, demonstrations, or other ways students can show what they know. Teachers use that information to ask some very important questions: 

  • What worked? 
  • Where do we need to adjust our instruction? 
  • Which students need a little more time or a different approach? 
  • And how can we challenge students who are ready to move beyond the standard?

The power of this process is that teachers are not working in isolation. They are learning from one another, sharing strategies, comparing student learning, and continually improving what happens in the classroom. It also helps create greater consistency for students. Whether a child is in one classroom or another, our goal is for students in the same grade or course to have access to the same essential learning, strong instruction, and meaningful opportunities to be successful. 

Over time, this collaboration helps our teachers become even stronger, our curriculum becomes more aligned, and the learning experience for students continues to improve.

Simply put, when talented educators come together around the common goal of helping students learn, great things can happen. It really is teamwork that makes the dream work!

We know that Wednesday early release requires flexibility from our families, and we are truly grateful for your partnership. By giving our teachers this consistent time to work together, we are investing in stronger instruction, better interventions and extensions, more meaningful learning experiences, and ultimately better outcomes for our students.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue working together to help every student learn, grow, and thrive.

Sincerely,

Scott Joseph
Associate Superintendent of School Improvement