EDUCATIONAL LEADERS SESSION 4 - Science Curriculum Evaluation & Planning: Building Coherence and Capacity

Oct 10, 2026

Educational Leaders Session 4 focuses on evaluating and planning science curriculum resources to strengthen coherence and instructional capacity. The agenda includes introductions and desired outcomes, small-group reflection on current high-quality curriculum practices, review of criteria and processes for selecting curriculum resources, and demonstrations of resource evaluation tools. Participants then develop plans to improve their school’s overall K–12 science program, followed by closing reflections on resource evaluation progress and next steps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages59

Reading Time2 h 29 min

AccessFree to download

Start Up: Introductions, Desired Outcomes, Participant Guidelines

Breakout #1: Current Practice +/Δ

Criteria and Process to Select Curriculum Resources

Resource Evaluation Tools

Planning and Coherence

Breakout #2: Make a Plan

Close: Resources, +/Δ

EDUCATIONAL LEADERS SESSION 4: Science Curriculum Evaluation & Planning: Building Coherence and Capacity Illinois Science Capacity Builders Series Anji Garza (10 min) 1. Start Up: Introductions, Desired Outcomes, Participant Guidelines 2. Breakout \#1: Current Practice +/Δ 3. Criteria and Process to Select Curriculum Resources 4. Resource Evaluation Tools 5. Planning and Coherence 6. Breakout \#2: Make a Plan 7. Close: Resources, +/Δ INTRODUCTIONS October-June 2026 Professional Synchronous virtual sessions, Asynchronous virtuaLl sesasinsi(nspgring 2026), Face to Face Session (June 2026). All professional learning supported by funds through the Illinois State Board of Education. IL SCIENCE STEERING COMMITTEE Meagan Budke, ISBE Anji Garza, PD & Ed Service Director, ROE 47 Heather Galbreath, 6th Grade Science Teacher Galesburg, IL Brian Gibbs, Educator, Bradley School District 61 Sarah Meador, Director of ROE Services, ROE 8 Dawn Novak, Professional Learning Architect, Northwestern Nate Nugent Kristin Rademaker, Professional Learning Specialist, NSTA Misty Richmond, Middle School Science Teacher, CPS Richard Stokes, University of Illinois-Springfield Nicole Vick You! Breakout Participant, Speaker Purpose & Desired Outcomes Purpose To deepen your understanding of the Illinois Science Standards, build your capacity to teach science, and support greater student success. Desired Outcome By the end of this meeting we will have: ● An understanding of the process for resource evaluation so that we can lead our school when needed ● A list of tools for resource evaluation ● A plan to strengthen my school’s overall K–12 science program. Participant Guidelines Participate though chat, Cameras on if possible hands up feature, and breakout sessions Resist the temptation Take care of your to multitask own needs Sarah Meador (15 min) Breakout 1 Think about your school’s use of high quality science curriculum and resources. What’s going well? ● What barriers are we facing? ● Small group discussion-10 min. Share out in larger group-5 min Group 1-Think about your school’s use of high quality science curriculum and resources. What’s going well? ● IQWST ● There are more HQIM available (OpenSciEd) What barriers are we facing? ● Onboarding of curriculum ● Textbooks are comfortable ○ Many branded to be NGSS-aligned, but are not ● Mystery Science is not enough ● Time ● Vertical alignment-working on it! Group 2-Think about your school’s use of high quality science curriculum and resources. What’s going well? ● K-5 use of Mystery Science is very engaging for students ● AP classes at the HS level–variety and success, pockets of great NGSS-aligned instruction ● PhD Science from Great Minds is also used successfully ● Teacher autonomy is high at the HS level, moving back to common summatives ● Things to learn, too, hard to be in all the classes to know what’s actually going on ● Open Sci Ed has a lot of great material that’s b What barriers are we facing? ● Are we meeting the rigor required? ● Are teachers using the materials? ● Do we have strong plans to choose curricular materials together–more than just textbook adoption? ● Struggles with time in the elementary classrooms ● Dual language materials available in Science Group 3-Think about your school’s use of high quality science curriculum and resources. What’s going well? ● Confidence in Elevate Science Courses; Earth, Life, Physics/Chemistry ● On board with NGSS Standards ● Incorporating more Inquiry Based Learning (mindshift) -Everyone is trying a couple times each quarter ● Literacy includes interdisciplinary science topics ● STEMScopes-it’s ok ● CER in grades 6-8 What barriers are we facing? ● Need more spiraling ● Need to know how to use the NGSS Standards ● Trying to improve conversations on how to choose the curriculum ●

FAQs

What is the purpose of Educational Leaders Session 4?

To deepen understanding of the Illinois Science Standards, build capacity to teach science, and support greater student success.

What activities happen during the session?

Participants discuss current practice in breakouts, review criteria and processes for selecting curriculum resources, use resource evaluation tools, and make a plan to strengthen K–12 science.

What types of challenges and strengths do participant groups consider?

Groups consider what is going well with high-quality science curriculum and resources, such as inquiry-based learning and NGSS alignment, and also identify barriers like time, onboarding of curriculum, and meeting required rigor.

Oct 10, 2026

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