K–12 Science Leader Network
The Exploratorium is supporting NGSS implementation across California.
Changing Science Education in California
At the Exploratorium, we believe every student has the right to learn science, and that the best way to learn science is to do science. Science inquiry empowers students to explore phenomena, address complex challenges, access economic opportunity, and solve real- world problems.
Unfortunately, too few California students currently receive this kind of science education— particularly our most vulnerable populations. To change that, in 2016, the Exploratorium established the K–12 Science Leader Network, a growing community of science educators throughout California who serve as change agents in and across their home districts, from remote communities to urban hubs.
Through sustained professional learning from the Exploratorium and collaboration across members, we are leveraging the collective power of educators and leaders across the state, working together to ensure that all California students can be successful and thrive in science.
To date, the network has engaged:
- 1,100+ participants representing every region in the state
- 4,300+ professional learning engagements
- 100,000 teachers served by leaders
- millions of students with better access to science education
- by 2025... 1,500 leaders serving 150,000 teachers
K–12 Science Leader Network
Alumni Resources
Contact Us
Grades K–5
Institute for Inquiry
ifi@exploratorium.edu
Grades 6–12
Teacher Institute
teacherinstitute@exploratorium.edu
About the Science Leader Network
In 2016, California restored funding in the state budget for the Exploratorium’s work with science leaders statewide. This renewed role positioned the Exploratorium to leverage its unique assets to support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) implementation across the state. Since that time, we have developed a K–12 Science Leader Network supporting over 1,100 leaders across California who, in turn, bring high-quality science professional development and advocacy to over 100,000 teachers statewide.
Professional learning in the K–12 Science Leader Network is focused on leaders actively learning through inquiry-rich activities. It begins with a multi-day core institute, followed by a series of virtual workshops, membership in online communities, and access to high-quality teaching resources.
Participants in the network:
- come from all regions of California
- 80% serve students who are marginalized or excluded from systems of privilege
- serve an average of 80 students and 123 teachers in their diverse classroom and leadership roles
—Network Participant
Evaluation
Based on an external evaluation by Inverness Research Inc., the Exploratorium’s K–12 Science Leader Network and professional learning programs consistently earn high ratings for quality, value, improved leadership capacities, and achieving equity in the science classroom.
98% of respondents said Exploratorium leadership institutes are high in quality.
97% of respondents said the Exploratorium leadership network has made them a better provider of professional development.
90% responded that the Exploratorium's professional learning programs encourage educators to consider equity more specifically than other professional learning programs.
Download the External Evaluation Summary Findings (PDF)
Download case studies of science leaders across California: Impact and Leader Profiles (PDF)