Professional Growth
Preparing to Implement PA STEELS K-12 Science Standards
To better prepare the science educators in your school district for implementing the shifts in science instruction entailed in the PA STEELS standards, the AIU's Math & Science Collaborative has constructed possible paths for your district to follow as you shift from “learning about” to “figuring out” as the normative culture in K-12 science classrooms.
The steps below provide an overview of the phases your district should follow for a successful implementation of the K-12 science standards within the PA STEELS standards. Below, you will find more details for each of the four phases of science standards implementation.
Each tab links to relevant science engagement opportunities for professional learning geared toward that phase. This information is also available as a PDF flowchart. Please contact Dr. Corinne Murawski with any questions.
Click the tabs below to navigate courses for each phase of implementation:
Phase 1: Make the case
During this first phase of moving towards implementing the PA STEELS K-12 science standards, science educators will become familiar with and experience the shifts entailed in moving from “learning about” to “figuring out” in science classrooms.
2025-26 School Year
Click tabs below to explore Phase 1 science offerings by category.
Science Institutes
Attend a free institute for science educators. These three-day science learning experiences align to various grade-levels and science domains. Attendees will develop a shared understanding of phenomenon-based and problem-driven science instruction that effectively incorporates all three dimensions of the standards (disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts). Participants will engage in pedagogical practices that foster reasoning and sense-making in the science classroom and support equity and access for all students. Designed with science teachers in mind, science-supportive administrators are strongly encouraged to attend with staff.
Note: These institutes were also offered during the previous two school years (2022-23 and 2023-24). If you attended during either of the previous two school years, we have a second institute offered during the second semester around assessment and pedagogical practices. Watch for that offering!
Please choose the offering aligned with your teaching role:
Elementary Science/STEM Institute
The content of this institute focuses on life science, physical science, Earth and space science and engineering design.
Administrators are encouraged to attend with the teacher(s) from their district/building. Special education teachers who support or push-in for science classes are also encouraged to accompany their partner teacher.
Act 48 hours will be awarded pending approval by PDE for those who attend all sessions and complete all related assignments.
Price: Free to all AIU3 educators; Educators outside AIU3: $450
Audience: K-5 Science and STEM teachers and special educators supporting science
Where: Allegheny Intermediate Unit; 475 E. Waterfront Dr. Homestead, PA 15120
Summer 2025 Meeting Dates: July 16-18, 2025
Register for Summer 2025 Session
Fall 2025 Meeting Dates: October 14, November 6, and November 17, 2025
Register for Fall 2025 Session
Secondary Sciences Institute
The content of this institute focuses mainly on the life and physical sciences in grades 6-12 (with the inclusion of related Earth and space science topics as appropriately connected to the science content under consideration).
Administrators are encouraged to attend with the teacher(s) from their district/building. Special education teachers who support or push-in for science classes are also encouraged to accompany their partner teacher.
Act 48 hours will be awarded pending approval by PDE for those who attend all sessions and complete all related assignments.
Price: Free to all AIU3 educators; Educators outside AIU3: $450
Audience: Grades 6-12 Science teachers
Where: Allegheny Intermediate Unit; 475 E. Waterfront Dr. Homestead, PA 15120
Summer 2025 Meeting Dates: July 16-18, 2025
Register for Summer 2025 Session
Fall 2025 Meeting Dates: October 14, November 6, and November 17, 2025
Register for Fall 2025 Session
Administrator-Focused Science Professional Learning
This one-and-a-half-day administrator-focused professional learning offering was specifically created to help leaders support shifts in science instruction towards phenomenon-based, 3-D science teaching.
This offering is steeped in both science learning and leadership for science instruction. The experience is based on the Next Generation Science Exemplar System’s Principal’s Learn and Network to Support 3-D Science Learning (PLANS) Pathway. Although this offering is designed specifically for administrators, it is open to any science leaders, including department heads, grade-band science leads and science coaches. (This offering is a prerequisite for a two-day training opportunity in Phase 2: Create a Plan.)
- Price: $350
- Audience: Any and all administrators (district or building) or science leaders (e.g., department head, coach, grade-level lead) are invited to attend
- Fall 2025 Meeting Dates: October 28 - 29, 2025
- Location: Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 475 E. Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120
K-12 Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Symposium- Thinking Beyond the Field Trip
Join us for a dynamic one-day symposium centered on Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (PA STEELS) in K–12 Education, designed to empower educators with the tools, strategies, and inspiration to integrate environmental awareness into their teaching. This event brings together educators, environmental experts, and community leaders to explore innovative approaches to sustainability education across all grade levels.
The symposium will feature presentations from leading voices in environmental education, a variety of sessions tailored to both elementary and secondary educators, and collaborative sessions that highlight real-world, place-based learning opportunities. Participants will gain access to resources, strategies for fostering student agency in environmental stewardship, and practical ideas for creating more sustainable school communities that extend well beyond a field trip.
Whether you're just beginning your journey in environmental education or looking to deepen your practice, this symposium offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers, learn from practitioners, and leave equipped to inspire the next generation of environmentally literate citizens.
Price: Free to AIU Districts
Audience: Any and all K-12 educators or science leaders (e.g., department head, coach, grade-level lead) are invited to attend
Tech: Please bring a laptop and/or tablet to access online resources.
Where: Allegheny Intermediate Unit; 475 E. Waterfront Dr. Homestead, PA 15120
Fall 2025 Meeting Date: October 3, 2025
Register for the Symposium
Phase 2: Create a plan
During this second phase, science leaders embark on the planning process for the strategic implementation of phenomenon-based, three-dimensional science instruction in their school or district that is aligned with the K-12 science standards in the PA STEELS standards.
2025-26 School Year
Click tabs below to explore Phase 2 science offerings by category.
Please note that some following offerings have important prerequisites for participation.
SCIENCE INSTITUTES: Course 2
Are you ready to learn more about pedagogy and assessment aligned to STEELS? Join us for this "Course 2" K-12 science institute!
Join us for an updated, in-person science professional learning offering from the Math & Science Collaborative at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit! The Course 2 Science Institutes are designed for educators who have already attended one of the three-day Science Institutes (e.g., Elementary Science, K-2 STEM Institute, Grades 3-5 Science Institute, Secondary Science, Secondary Physical Science Institute, Secondary Life Science Institute). This professional learning opportunity is perfect for science educators who are ready to dig deeply into the classroom culture, pedagogical practices, and assessment practices aligned to science teaching and learning with the PA STEELS standards. Don't miss out on this free opportunity to learn more about teaching science for the next generation. Mark your calendars and get ready for the Course 2 Science Institutes!
K-12 Sciences Institute: Course 2
Price: Free to all AIU3 educators; Educators outside AIU3: $450
Audience: Any K-12 science educators who previously attended any of the introductory science institutes from AIU MSC (e.g., Elementary Science, K-2 STEM Institute, Grades 3-5 Science Institute, Secondary Science, Secondary Physical Science Institute, Secondary Life Science Institute)
Administrators are encouraged to attend with the teacher(s) from their district/building.
Act 48 hours will be awarded pending approval by PDE for those who attend all sessions and complete all related assignments.
Fall/Winter 2025-26 Meeting Dates:, December, 2, December 15, 2025, and January 20, 2026 with an optional fourth day on March 12, 2026 at a location to be determined
Where: In-person at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit; 475 E. Waterfront Dr.; Homestead, PA 15120 for Days 1-3 and at a location to be determined for the optional fourth date
K-12 SCIENCE LEADERSHIP GROUP:
Join other science leaders from Allegheny County school districts to collaboratively learn and grow around science instructional leadership. Open to any science leader who has participated in at least one of the opportunities in Phase 1: Make the Case. The AIU's Math & Science Collaborative encourages school districts to have at least one representative participate in this group.
REGISTRATION BY INVITATION
The AIU Science Leadership Group will continue to extend the collaborative work we’ve begun as learners, leaders, and colleagues!
Price: Free to all AIU educators
Audience: Science leaders/educators who participated in previously offered science institutes and serve as explicit or implicit school or district science leaders.
2025-26 Meeting Dates: October 16, 2025; January 6, March 12, April 16, 2026
Phase 3: Implement the plan
2025-26 School Year
Click tabs below to explore Phase 3 science offerings by category.
Guided Review of Potential High Quality Instructional Materials
Designed for teams of four to six individuals who have already completed at least one Phase 1: Make the Case engagement opportunity and preferably have participated as a team in the Phase 2 offering of Planning for Professional Learning around Science Standards: Strategically Building Capacity for Sustained Practice: Work directly with the science coordinators from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Math & Science Collaborative (AIU MSC) to vet potential High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) for science.
Learning to vet science instructional materials with NextGen Toolkit for Instructional Materials Evaluation (TIME)
Learn how to effectively evaluate and select science instructional materials claiming to be STEELS or NGSS-aligned using NextGen Tools for Instructional Materials Evaluation (TIME).
Who: Science Leadership Teams from school districts in and around Allegheny Intermediate Unit. It is strongly recommended that you and your team have previously engaged in the "Planning Strategically for Science Professional Learning" professional learning offering. (If this is not the case, please reach out to corinne.murawski@aiu3.net or kristen.rice@aiu3.net to discuss other appropriate preparatory professional learning for you and your team.)
Where: YOUR DISTRICT OR Allegheny Intermediate Unit; 475 E. Waterfront Dr.; Homestead, PA 15120
Price: Dependent upon state and grant funding for 2025-26 SY.
What: During this two-day professional learning offering, you and your district science leadership team will learn how to use three of the five tools in the NextGen Toolkit for Instructional Materials Evaluation (TIME) suite. More specifically, we will engage with the Prepare, Prescreen, and Paperscreen tools using an exemplar unit.
Expect that by the conclusion of the two-day professional learning offering, you and your district colleagues will be equipped to use the NextGen TIME pre- and paperscreening tools to review and vet science instructional materials for their quality and alignment with PA STEELS to better decide which materials you will move forward into a pilot phase.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to improve your science curriculum!
2025-2026 Dates: Please reach out to Corinne Murawski or Kristen Rice to schedule.
Strategic Communication of Vision
Inform the community of your district’s undertaking during a parent, caregiver, and/or community information session. Work with AIU MSC science coordinators to design and implement strategies for best communicating the district’s vision for shifting towards more “figuring out” in K-12 science classrooms.
Caregiver Communication about Science
If your district is ready to design and implement a session to inform parents and caregivers about the shifts in science instruction in your districts, team with the MSC Science Coordinators to get assistance in doing just that! Please reach out to Corinne Murawski or Kristen Rice to get started!
OpenSciEd Elementary Curriculum Launch
This three-day professional learning opportunity introduces grades K-5 teachers (or administrators/coaches supporting elementary science) to the OpenSciEd instructional materials in addition to a specific introductory unit for one grade level. As a result of this professional learning, teachers will understand the supports and routines embedded into the OpenSciEd Elementary units that align with the shifts called for by A Framework for K–12 Science Education, the Next Generation Science Standards, and the PA STEELS Standards.
Who: Elementary School Science Educators or Administrators who support Elementary School Science and are piloting or adopting the OpenSciEd Instructional Materials; Intermediate Unit Colleagues who support implementation of high-quality science instructional materials and provide the professional learning to buttress such implementation
When: Tuesday - Thursday, June 3-5 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM each day. Lunch will be provided.
Where: Allegheny Intermediate Unit (475 E. Waterfront Dr., Homestead, PA 15120)
Included in this session are opportunities for teachers to:
- Deepen their understanding of three-dimensional instruction and assessment
- Engage in the actual lessons of the unit as a student
- Watch videos of students engaging with the OpenSciEd units
Overview of Agenda: Over the course of our three days together, we will address the following questions.
- What does it mean to use phenomena and questioning to support student sense making in science?
- How do we support instruction that is coherent for students, even in the early grades?
- How do we support equitable discussions that move students’ science ideas forward in the elementary grades?
- How do you support and assess your students’ growth ?
Other: Please contact Dr. Corinne Murawski or Kristen Rice directly regarding other elementary science opportunities. Depending upon funding, there may be a fee for this service.
OpenSciEd Middle School Curriculum Launch
This professional learning opportunity introduces middle grades science teachers to the OpenSciEd instructional materials in addition to a specific introductory unit for one grade level. As a result of this professional learning, teachers will understand the supports and routines embedded into the OpenSciEd units that align with the shifts called for by A Framework for K–12 Science Education (NRC, 2012) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and PA STEELS standards. Included in this session are opportunities for teachers to:
- Watch videos of students engaging with the OpenSciEd units
- Hear teachers reflect on shifting their instruction with support from the units
- Engage in the actual lessons of the unit as a student
- Deepen their understanding of three-dimensional instruction and assessment
Overview of Agenda: Over the course of our three days together, we will address the following questions.
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Day 1: What does it mean to use phenomena and questioning to support student sense making?
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Day 2: How do we support instruction that is coherent for students?
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Day 3: How do we support equitable discussions that move students’ science ideas forward?
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An OPTIONAL Day 4 will be offered during the school year on October 2, 2025: How do you support and assess your students’ growth in three-dimensional learning?
Who: Middle School Science Educators or educators/administrator who support Middle School Science and are piloting or adopting the OpenSciEd Instructional Materials
Where: Allegheny Intermediate Unit (475 E. Waterfront Dr., Homestead, PA 15120)
Note: If you teach in a high-needs school district in Southwestern PA, please reach out to Corinne Murawski or Michael Fierle for more information regarding tuition defrayment provided by Arconic Foundation.
Summer, 2025 Dates: Monday - Wednesday, June 23-25 and OPTIONAL Thursday, October 2, 2025
Summer Registration
Fall, 2025 Dates: Four Thursdays in a row beginning September 11, 2025 and continuing through October 2, 2025
Fall Registration
Other: Please contact Dr. Corinne Murawski or Kristen Rice directly regarding other middle school science opportunities. Depending upon funding, there may be a fee for this service.
OpenSciEd High School Curriculum Launch
Please contact Dr. Corinne Murawski or Kristen Rice directly regarding these opportunities. Depending upon funding, there may be a fee for this service.
Phase 4: Sustain the implementation
2025-26 School Year
Get support from the Math & Science Collaborative to continue your district's implementation of the STEELS science standards via your district's science curricular materials.
OpenSciEd Middle School User Group
Coming in January, 2026 for teachers who have begun piloting or implementing the OpenSciEd Middle School Instructional Materials.
Details and specific dates and locations to follow.
To determine if this offering is for you, or if you just want a bit more information, reach out to Corinne Murawski or Kristen Rice.
Other
Please reach out to Corinne or Kristen to discuss and schedule tailored offerings for your district team. Offerings include but are not limited to:
- Beyond the Launch: Professional Learning to support Implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials;
- Science Coaching; and
- Curriculum Alignment Facilitation
Please contact Dr. Corinne Murawski or Kristen Rice directly regarding these opportunities. Depending upon funding, there may be a fee for this service.