Elementary Science Institute (Course 1/Introductory), Fall 2025
2025-10-14 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Content foci include life science, physical science, and Earth & space science.

Who: Open to all grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 science teachers and STEM teachers as well as special educators supporting science
When: October 14, November 6, and November 17, 2025 from 8:30 – 3:30
Where: In-person at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Price: Free to Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU)districts; Non-AIU districts: $450 (School district will be invoiced.)
Administrators are strongly encouraged to attend with the teacher(s) from their district/building
Attendees will develop a shared understanding of phenomenon-based and problem-driven science teaching and learning that effectively incorporates all three dimensions of the science standards (disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, & crosscutting concepts) and provides equitable, inclusive instruction.
Participants will engage, as learners and as teachers, with the pedagogical practices that foster reasoning and sense-making in the science classroom and support equity and access for all students. They will also gain access to tools and resources for science teaching and learning at their grade band as they become familiar with what instruction in life, physical, and Earth/space science looks and feels like when implementing the science standards from PA STEELS.
Over the course of the three days, participants will explore the progression of the science standards from the PA Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability (STEELS) standards within their grade band.
Act 48 hours will be awarded pending approval by PDE for those who attend all sessions and complete all related assignments.

If you previously attended the K-2 STEM Institute or the Grades 3-5 Science Institute during SY 2022-23 or 2023-24, this institute will be repetitive for you. Instead, register for the Course 2; K-12 Science Institute offered this fall.

Questions? Contact Dr. Corinne Murawski, corinne.murawski@aiu3.net, 412-394-4629

Secondary MTSS Networking and PLC Meetings
2025-10-15 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-11-19 08:30 - 09:30
Join us for a year-long virtual professional development series focused on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at the secondary level. Designed for teachers, principals, counselors, interventionists, and all school personnel who work with students in grades 6–12, this monthly series explores how to effectively implement MTSS practices in middle and high school settings.
Each session will dive into a specific topic under the MTSS umbrella—from foundational understanding and data-driven decision-making to intervention scheduling and evidence-based academic supports. The series features a blend of instructional guidance, practical tools, and guest speakers from leading intervention programs such as VMath, TransMath, REWARDS, Third Quest, and PVAAS.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine existing practices, these sessions will provide actionable strategies to support every student across all tiers.

Elementary MTSS Networking and PLC Meetings
2025-10-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-19 10:00 - 11:00
Join us for a year-long virtual professional development series focused on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at the elementary level. Designed for teachers, principals, counselors, interventionists, and all school personnel who work with students in grades K-6, this monthly series explores how to effectively implement MTSS practices in elementary school settings.
Each session will dive into a specific topic under the MTSS umbrella—from foundational understanding and data-driven decision-making to intervention scheduling and evidence-based academic supports. The series features a blend of instructional guidance, practical tools, and guest speakers from leading intervention programs such as Spring Math, UFLI, and REWARDS.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine existing practices, these sessions will provide actionable strategies to support every student across all tiers.

Executive Function 101
2025-10-16 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-11-20 08:00 - 09:00
Student success extends beyond academic skills as all children and youth require essential cognitive and behavioral skills to be prosperous at home, school and the community. Join this virtual, nine-part professional learning series focused on developing and integrating the two domains and 11 core skills of executive functioning in K–12 classrooms. Each session will spotlight one skill, offering a concise overview, classroom integration strategies, resource sharing, and collaborative discussion.

AT Making - Solder, Switches, & Stuffing
2025-10-20 08:30 - 15:30 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Learn how to solder, and create fun, accessible tech projects that adapt toys and empower all students!

Description
Are you looking for projects that your school’s STEAM program or club can use to develop and hone basic making skills? Are you curious about additional, real-life applications for the tools and skills your students are learning? Are you wondering how toys can be hacked to make them more accessible to children with physical disabilities?
This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to assistive technology making skills to create usable access products. Participants will learn basic soldering to join wire segments and assemble electrical components for use in a variety of assistive technology applications. Those skills – along with some 3D-printed parts – will be applied to create a mechanical switch that could be used by an individual with physical disabilities. Each participant will also make a battery interrupter and switch-adapt an electronic toy that can be used with the scratch-built switch. Participants are encouraged to bring a reusable shopping bag to carry completed projects home at the end of the day.
Background | The AIU is a proud contributor to the 412 Ability Tech Ecosystem
What to Bring | A reusable shopping bag to carry completed projects home
Who Should Attend | General education teachers, special education teachers, assistive technology specialists, occupational therapists, and other accessibility-minded individuals (Beginners are welcome – no previous making experience is required)

Emotional Support Teacher Training
2025-10-21 08:30 - 09:30
Join us for a series of professional learning that centers on the development of teachers of students receiving emotional support. Teachers will begin with two days of training where they will establish beginning of the year rules and routines with a trauma-informed lens. Teachers will also learn how to use the Pennsylvania Career Ready Skills Continuum to center social emotional skill development in their daily teaching. Additionally, teachers will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing networking sessions throughout the year, which will focus on topics targeted at the core components of being an emotional support teacher.

Word Wizards: English Language Arts (Grades 3-12)
2025-10-21 09:00 - 15:00 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Build your students into word wizards! This Reading Achievement Center workshop series presents teachers in grades 3-12 with research and practical strategies to strengthen students’ word knowledge, through both indirect vocabulary exposure and direct vocabulary instruction.
Price: $450 per person
2025-26 Meeting Dates:
October 21, January 8, February 10
Register for in-person course
Register for asynchronous online course

Elementary MTSS Reading Tier 2-3 Intervention Systems
2025-10-23 08:30 - 15:30
Elementary school teams will develop, refine, and evaluate tiered reading intervention systems and practices in order to improve outcomes for learners. Content will be provided to enhance the effectiveness of advanced tiers’ teaming, assessment processes, data interpretation, and intervention selection and delivery. Products will include data meeting agendas, assessment and intervention protocols, and draft MTSS Handbook sections.
Registration:
This is a team training series. School teams are requested to keep attendance to no more than four (4) per building. District administrators may attend without an assigned team.
Required team members: Building Administrator, Interventionist or Coach

Administrator-Focused Science Professional Learning
2025-10-28 08:00 - 2025-10-29 15:30 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
This administrator-focused PL offering was specifically designed to help leaders support shifts in science instruction towards PA STEELS

Who: Any and all administrators (district or building) or explicitly defined science leaders (e.g., department head, coach, grade-level lead) are invited to attend
When: October 28-29, 2025 from 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Where: Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 475 E. Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120
Price: $350
What: The Principals Learn and Network to Support 3-Dimensional Science Learning (PLANS) is an interactive experience emphasizing Instructional leadership and active support for K-12 science and STEM teachers at both the building and district level. This pathway is specifically created for instructional leaders interested in knowing more about and figuring out constructive strategies for supporting teachers and students as they make shifts in their teaching and learning towards phenomenon-based, three-dimensional science.
PLANS participants are immersed in actively learning in ways that NGSS , PA STEELS standards, and education research calls for students to learn science in the classroom. Administrators experience firsthand what it feels, looks, and sounds like when K-12 students are figuring out why phenomena happen as well as representing their thinking through modeling and productive classroom talk. Administrators use some of the important tools for making thinking public that teachers and students use in NGSS-designed units. Then, administrators have opportunities to reflect together on what it means for students and teachers to work together as a community —- and how they can support this work themselves.
Throughout the experience, participants consider the ways in which their school can begin (or continue) to make these shifts. They see examples of students engaged in NGSS-designed learning in classrooms, as well as administrators supporting teachers as they begin to implement the changes called for by NGSS. They explore concrete tools they can use to support teachers (for example, in planning meetings, observations, and debriefs), and they begin to plan how they might use these tools themselves.
The shifts motivated by the National Research Council’s Framework for K-12 Science Education (NAS, 2012), the NGSS and PA STEELS standards are substantial. Yet we know that these shifts are possible for teachers to make. We also know that the shifts are productive for student learning, and they must be supported through pedagogy and classroom culture. Instructional leadership and active support at the building and district level is an important part of a successful outcome for teachers of science and for their students!
Tech: Please bring a laptop and/or tablet to access online resources.

Check and Connect: Building Connection Through Mentoring at Tier 2 & 3
2025-10-28 08:30 - 15:30, 2025-11-20 08:30 - 15:30
Check & Connect is an intervention used with K-12 students who show warning signs of disengagement with school and who are at risk of dropping out. At the core of Check & Connect is a trusting relationship between the student and a caring, trained mentor who both advocates for and challenges the student to keep education salient. Students are referred to Check & Connect when they show warning signs of disengaging from school, such as poor attendance, behavioral issues, and/or low grades.

Adolescent Literacy Institute: Middle and High School English & Reading Teachers
2025-10-29 09:00 - 15:00 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Specifically aligned with brain research on how adolescents learn, this Reading Achivement Center workshop series engages participants in the research behind and modeling of effective reading and writing instruction for the secondary grades.
Price: $600 per person
2025-26 Meeting Dates:
October 29, December 11, January 27, February 26
Register for in-person course
Register for asynchronous online course

Functional Behavior Assessment to Positive Behavior Support Plans: Assessing Behavior & Designing Effective Interventions
2025-10-30 08:30 - 15:30, 2025-11-17 08:30 - 15:30
This series is designed to build internal capacity within schools for staff to conduct Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and develop positive behavior support plans (PBSPs). Across three full days all steps of the FBA & PBSP process will be explored. Time will be allotted to discuss function-based interventions, crisis planning, and implementation fidelity. Participants will be expected to attend all in -person sessions as content connects and builds from one topic to the next.

LETRS Volume 1
2025-10-30 09:00 - 15:30
*Completion of Volume 1 and 2 course meets PA Structured Literacy Chapter 49 requirements
Developed by renowned literacy experts Dr. Louisa Moats and Dr. Carol Tolman, LETRS® is a flexible literacy professional development solution for preK–12 educators. LETRS earned the International Dyslexia Association’s Accreditation and provides teachers with the skills they need to master the fundamentals of reading instruction—phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and language.
LETRS empowers teachers to understand the what, why, and how of scientifically based reading instruction

Structured Literacy for Special Educators K-12
2025-11-06 08:30 - 15:00
This comprehensive professional development series is designed specifically for special education teachers to deepen their knowledge and instructional practices in literacy. Participants will explore the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy frameworks, equipping them with the tools and strategies necessary to support students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Meets Chapter 49 requirements.
Content will include:
Foundations of the Science of Reading -Understand the interdisciplinary research behind how the brain learns to read and the implications for classroom instruction.
Principles of Structured Literacy -Learn the essential components of explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction, including phonology, sound-symbol association, syllable instruction, morphology, syntax, and semantics.
Understanding Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities- Identify characteristics of dyslexia and other reading difficulties, debunk common myths, and explore the neurobiological basis of these disabilities.
Assessment and Data-Driven Instruction – Gain hands-on experience with screening tools, diagnostic assessments, and progress monitoring measures to inform instruction and intervention planning.
Intervention Design and Implementation – Apply knowledge of reading science to deliver effective, individualized interventions and accommodations tailored to diverse learners.

Getting It Right from the Start
2025-11-07 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-11-14 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-11-21 08:00 - 09:00
This practical and engaging, virtual series is designed to equip special education professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to develop compliant, student-centered transition components within transition age Individualized Education Plans (IEP). Participants will learn how to write clear, individualized transition grids and craft meaningful postsecondary Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFPs) with a primary focus on the PELs of Postsecondary transition. Participants will also enhance their knowledge of alignment with students’ goals, strengths, and needs. Through real-world examples, compliance guidance, and best practices, attendees will leave better prepared to ensure each student’s transition plan supports a successful path to adulthood—whether that includes postsecondary education, employment, or independent living. Perfect for new and veteran educators, case managers, and administrators committed to “getting it right from the start.”

Small Group, Big Impact: Structuring Groups for Student Success
2025-11-07 08:30 - 15:30
Ready to strengthen your Tier 2 small group instruction? This session will guide participants in building effective, systematized small groups within a PBIS framework by focusing on the key features that lead to strong outcomes, including the use of data, systems, and instructional practices. Attendees will explore how to identify students for targeted support, select relevant group topics, structure engaging instruction, and use data to monitor and evaluate effectiveness. The session will also include guidance on selecting and implementing evidence-based SEL programs appropriate for Tier 2 support.

English Language Arts Symposium
2025-11-10 09:00 - 15:00 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
2025-26 Topic: Tips for Shifting to Online PSSA

The English Language Arts (ELA) Symposium is the Reading Achievement Center’s annual workshop addressing a critical need for strengthening teacher practice that improves student achievement.
Price: Free

ELA Symposium (Grades 3-5)

Date: November 10, 2025
Register

ELA Symposium (Grades 6-8)

Date: January 13, 2026
Register

Learning Together: Trying Tech with Tomorrow’s Teachers
2025-11-11 09:40 - 12:00 | Point Park University, 201 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, United States
Experience the excitement of learning educational technology side-by-side with future educators

Learn alongside Point Park University undergraduate students in their educational technology class!
UPDATED TOPIC: The topic for this session will be AI. Discover college students’ uses and questions, learn how AI actually works, and how we can all make the most of AI in a school setting, for teachers and students.
The partnership of current teachers and preservice teachers will make for a rich experience for all!
Background | “Who you are is how you lead—that’s the guiding mantra of Point Park University’s School of Education…Through professional networks, we provide students with local, regional, and global opportunities to design, facilitate, implement, and assess learning in innovative ways.”
“EDUC 101 introduces pre-service teachers and undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to the intentional integration of technology into lesson planning.”
What to Bring | A laptop or tablet, if possible
Who Should Attend | K-12 school-based teachers interested in learning to use and apply STEAM-related gadgets, such as Spheros and MakeyMakey, in their content area. Participants should also be excited for the opportunity to learn side-by-side with undergraduate students.
Open to educators of ALL grade-levels and content-areas.
Special Location | Point Park University 716 Academic Hall at Point Park University, 201 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222
*Garage parking is recommended; directions will be provided to registrants prior to the event.

Workshop DLM: Plot the Path to Propel Progress
2025-11-14 08:00 - 17:00
Drop in the second Friday of each month to workshop your IEP goals, lesson plans, and instructional strategies for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This workshop is your go-to space for hands-on support, where special education consultants guide you in aligning your instruction with grade-level standards, while leveraging the Essential Elements and Linkage Levels from the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM).
Together, we can:
– Review assessment resources
– Summarize data
– Align Essential Elements to IEP goals
– Connect data to instruction
– Plan for inclusion
– Explore Instructional Strategies
Whether you’re new to DLM or refining your approach, this is the place to connect with fellow educators, get personalized advice, and develop strategies for navigating the complexities of teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Please note this is an open forum to receive instructional and IEP development support, this is NOT about the PA Alternate State Assessment (PASA).

STEM Educator & Innovator Role-Alike
2025-11-17 08:30 - 15:30 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Join our role-alike day for STEM/STEAM teachers to share ideas and build skills.

This role-alike group is designed for STEM/STEAM teachers and coordinators to build skills and gain new ideas. Hear how others are integrating everything from maker education to coding and beyond. This group will meet twice during the school year. You are welcome to join us for one or both sessions. (Content will be different each time.)
Background | What is a role-alike? Role-alike events bring together educators from around the region holding a similar position or role.
What to Bring | A laptop or tablet, if possible
Who Should Attend | Both experienced STEAM educators and those newer to STEAM education are encouraged to attend.
Lunch will be provided.

AI for Absolute Beginners
2025-11-18 08:30 - 15:30 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Discover AI basics in this supportive, judgment-free, education-focused workshop.

Do you hear about AI everywhere, but you’re not quite sure what it actually is? You will leave this workshop with a basic understanding of what AI is and will have opportunities, through guided exploration, to try some well-known tools. The implications of AI on teaching and learning will also be discussed in this judgment-free workshop.
What to Bring | Please bring a laptop or tablet, if possible.
Who Should Attend | Teachers and Administrators who are brand-new to AI.

25-26 Transition Council of Allegheny County (TCCAC) Meeting Series
2025-11-19 08:30 - 14:30
Pennsylvania’s transition community has a rich history of helping youth and young adults successfully transition from school to adult life. Since 1990 PA’s Local Transition Coordinating Councils (LTCCs) have played an instrumental role in this process. With cross-stakeholder representation, the TCCAC will host 4 meetings during the 2025-2026 school year. The meeting series will be conducted as a full day, in-person experience to afford attendees time for professional development, networking, coordination, and resource development. Each session is designed to educate transition coordinators, educational professionals, parents, and agency providers to better coordinate, collaborate, problem solve, and support transition age youth with disabilities successfully navigate their pathway toward graduation. Please consider attending each council meeting to expand your professional network, enhance your knowledge and expertise, gather meaningful tools and resources and learn about upcoming events to assist you in your profession or community network.

Moving Beyond Indicator 13: Advancing Student Centered Transition
2025-12-02 08:00 - 14:30
This two-part series guides school district teams in developing a comprehensive, research-based transition system that strengthens programming, services, and compliance. Attendees will explore sustainable frameworks, leverage transition data for informed planning, and engage in district-centered action steps. Emphasis will be placed on building collaborative partnerships with community stakeholders and applying best practices to enhance and sustain high-quality transition outcomes.This series is ideal for school district teams involved in secondary transition planning, programming, and services. Teams should include a combination of special education administrators, transition coordinators, secondary educators, school counselors, vocational rehabilitation counselors, related service providers, and work-based learning coordinators. Participation by individuals who oversee compliance and data analysis, as well as those who foster community partnerships, will ensure a well-rounded and effective transition system development.
