Implementing the STEELS Standards: Developing Science Leadership Teams Day Two

Instructor(s): Peney E. Wright, Eric Yoder 

Description of Activity: Tier #1 Session Full implementation of PA’s Integrated STEELS Academic Standards and revised PSSA Science Testing format will begin school year 2025-2026. In preparation for this 3-year roll out, we are offering a series of two workshop sessions. 

In session #1, participants will have an immersive experience for the look and feel of the shift in science pedagogy. 

Session #2 supports educators unpacking the new standards’ characteristics and format, focusing on student performance expectations, taking a deep dive into grade level and grade band STEELS 3-dimensional standards, reviewing productive student discourse in classrooms and discussing project-based learning pedagogy to meet student performance expectations; followed by district wide time for creating a plan of action for the district and curriculum mapping. 
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•  Teams will set goals and plan regularly scheduled meetings and IU check-ins.
• Minimum of seven per team.
•  Act 48 credit will be awarded. 
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Strongly Recommended: Assemble a team of at least one district-level administrator, curriculum and instruction director, special education director, one building administrator, one K-2 teacher, one 3-5 teacher, one middle school teacher, one high school teacher, a STEM teacher, one or more special education teachers, one or more ELL teachers, an instructional coach, and/or guidance counselors. 
 

Recommended prerequisite: School Leaders Establishing Foundations for the STEELS Academic Standards: NGSX PLANS Recommended Prerequisite: read the National Research Council: A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts and Core Ideas (2012), free download 
 

Sessions Progression:

• Session #1 must be completed first, but any subsequent
• Session #2 workshop may be selected throughout the school year. They can be, but do not have to be, completed in close proximity. 
   

Audience: administrators, principals or assistant principals, curriculum director, elementary 
teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers, STEM teachers, instructional coaches, library media specialists, special education teachers, ELL teachers and/or guidance counselor

"With the STEELS standards going with a new approach, this professional learning session has helped me better understand how this will look in our school and with our teachers.” Administrator attendee, March 2023 
 

See additional PD opportunities to support the new standards: Ambitious Science Teaching (AST), Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs), Engineering is Elementary (EiE) and Engineering by Design (EbD)