CILS has four programs related to developing leaders with a vision of science education that is inclusive, learner-centered, and content-rich, and that makes use of community resources and expertise, including informal science institutions such as museums, aquaria, botanic gardens, zoos, and science centers.

• Informal Learning Certificate Program at the Exploratorium.
  There are currently 100 teacher educators from 50 informal science institutions participating in this two-year leadership program in inquiry, learning theory and school policy.
  
  
• Graduate Programs at UC Santa Cruz and King's College London.
  There are currently 17 students enrolled in graduate programs in science education and developmental psychology. These programs examine learning, and science learning, with an emphasis on social and cultural contexts, scientific discourse and argumentation, and designs for learning in out-of-school settings.
  
  
• Postdoctoral Research Appointments at the Exploratorium, King's College London, and UC Santa Cruz.
  There are currently six postdoctoral fellows-three in developmental psychology, two in science education, and one in biology-conducting research to advance the CILS agenda.
  
  
• Science Fellows Program at UC Santa Cruz.
  There are currently 11 doctoral candidates in the natural sciences attending this three-year/three-quarter program, in which they take coursework in the learning sciences and develop field projects building on attributes and resources of informal science institutions and learning.