Open Enrollment Teacher Institutes for BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life
BSCS Science Learning offers several professional learning programs to support the effective implementation of BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life. For districts that do not have enough high school teachers to justify bringing BSCS Biology professional learning to their site, we provide Open Enrollment Teacher Institutes with the same content as our District-based Teacher Institutes.
BSCS invites individuals or small groups from your school or district to attend one of our two-day or one-day, virtual institutes. A minimum of five attendees is required to host these institutes.
Upcoming Virtual Institutes:
| Dates | Unit | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| July 27-28, 2026 |  Unit 1: Infectious Diseases | two full-day sessions |
| November 9, 2026 |  Unit 2: Hereditary-Genetic Disease | one full-day session |
| January 11, 2027 |  Unit 3: Matter and Energy | one full-day session |
| March 8, 2027 |  Unit 4: Biodiversity and Humans | one full-day session |
Don’t see a date and time that works for you? Reach out to us to discuss an afterschool session!
Goals:
- Deepen understanding of three-dimensional, phenomenon/problem-driven teaching and learning as described in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
- Deepen understanding of the Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL) instructional model used in BSCS Biology.
- Increase ability to apply knowledge of equitable teaching and learning in classroom practice to support student construction of a coherent science content storyline.
- Experience AIL lessons and enhance understanding of literacy, emerging multilingual learner (EML), and sensemaking strategies embedded in the curriculum.
- Build community and a common vision for BSCS Biology.
Who should Participate:
Teachers who:
- plan to pilot and/or adopt BSCS Biology
- work in a small or remote district that cannot justify a professional learning program dedicated to their teachers
School/District leaders who:
- are currently considering piloting and/or adopting BSCS Biology, and/or
- wish to support teachers in successfully piloting and/or implementing BSCS Biology.
Benefits:
- Discover the impact that BSCS Biology is having on teachers and students across the country–and the impact it can have on teachers and students in your school and district.
- Engage in a powerful professional learning institute designed to maximize your confidence and success in implementing BSCS Biology.
- Join and build community with BSCS Biology users across the country.
Cost:
One-day/Two half-day Institute:
- Registration is $250 for the first teacher from a district/school and $200 for each additional teacher.
Guarantee your spot by paying the registration in full.
What Educators Are Saying About BSCS Biology
“Anchor phenomena is different for me, and my students are really engaging with it. I’m seeing a shift in student responses like “I don’t know” and “I don’t care” to students continuously wanting to build on their initial ideas and come up with more complex questions.”
-Precious Nwazota, high school teacher in California
“BSCS Biology professional learning has helped our teachers think about their instruction in a very different way. Teachers see their students more as young scientists with lots of knowledge that they’re bringing into class. When I walk into our biology classrooms, they are not the same classrooms that they were two years ago.”
-Alejandro Lopez, assistant principal in California
“It would benefit any group to have a grounded introduction of the curriculum and materials in order to understand the full scope and intentions of the text. BSCS Biology goes beyond the traditional textbook and it is critical that educators know what resources are included as well as the intentional strategies embedded along the way. Take the time to review and practice these strategies in order to support staff and students in new ways.”
-Dani Booth, high school teacher of EML students in Colorado