Jia Zhang is an associate professor at the College of Education, Zhejiang University. Her research interests include teacher development, educational leadership and school improvement. Her recent publications appear in Educational Management, Administration & Leadership, Teachers and Teaching, and Educational Studies.

• 1. Introduction 2. The concept of professional learning communities and its effects on teachers 3. Understanding professional learning communities in a Chinese context 4. Testing a conceptual model to understand the development of professional learning communities in China 5. The relationship of professional learning communities with teacher efficacy, commitment and job satisfaction 6. How professional learning communities affect teacher efficacy, commitment and job satisfaction in Chinese schools 7. Barriers to the development of professional learning communities in Chinese schools 8. Concluding remarks