Critical Friends Groups (CFG's) are professional learning communities where educators reflect on, analyze, and give and receive feedback on teaching practices using a variety of protocols to examine student work for the purposes of improving student performance. Led by a trained CFG coach, CFG's meet on a regular basis in schools and function as a powerful vehicle for ongoing professional development and continuous school improvement.

Through CFG training, educators acquire an experiential understanding of CFG practices and processes, and can then lead CFG's in their own schools.

CFG training takes place in intensive single- and multi-day workshops. We can provide ongoing coaching support subsequent to the training to assist CFG facilitators in implementing CFG's in their schools. Each CES-NJ coach is a trained CFG facilitator and CES protocols are used extensively in CFG work.

Some central premises of CFG work include:

• Educators meet regularly in small groups (typically 4-12) to provide focused and sustained feedback on each other's practice.
• Trust and safety are essential in a CFG environment, and provide the foundation for risk and disclosure.
• A key focus of CFG work is examining student work for purposes of improving teaching and learning.
• Social and educational equity if a fundamental goal of CFG practice
• Practitioners are accountable for advancing continuous improvement in school communities.