U-46 recommends OpenSciEd for biology, to pilot chemistry and physics with $1.87M multiyear plan
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Summary
District curriculum leaders recommended adopting OpenSciEd for biology and piloting OpenSciEd chemistry and physics across high schools, citing alignment to NGSS, hands-on phenomenon-based learning and a multiyear professional-learning plan; the board discussed but did not vote.
The School District U-46 Board of Education received a proposal March 24 recommending adoption of OpenSciEd for biology and pilot programs in chemistry and physics, with a multiyear implementation and professional-learning plan and a total multiyear cost estimate of $1,870,000.
Brian Tennison, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and the science curriculum team described a years-long review process that included 11 student reviewers and biology, chemistry and physics teachers across AP, IB, dual-language and special-education programs. Tennison said OpenSciEd is explicitly aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and centers instruction on real-world phenomena: “Students learn through phenomenon based instruction, engaging in hands on investigation, asking real world questions and thinking like scientists and engineers.”
The proposal recommends purchasing materials and beginning unit-specific professional learning in 2024–25, implementing biology across high schools in 2025–26 with job-embedded coaching, and piloting chemistry and physics in 2025–26. The district will use common formative and summative assessments to monitor student understanding and refine instruction in real time, the presenters said. Tennison described teacher professional learning as curriculum-centered, active and supported by ongoing coaching and reflection.
Cost details presented to the board included an overall multiyear investment of $1,870,000, estimated consumable materials needs of roughly $1,500 per high school annually for consumables, and an estimated per-pupil cost on the order of $142.25 in early years (with $23.70 over six years shown on the district slide deck). The presenters said professional-learning costs include substitute coverage and coaching.
Board members asked about scope and piloting. Several members expressed support for phenomenon-based learning and asked how honors or AP-level courses would be served; administrators said honors courses remain distinct but that OpenSciEd’s three-dimensional model could serve as a foundation and that pilots would give teachers experience and feedback before any districtwide change. Staff said the chemistry and physics pilots will require teacher sign-ups and that the district will scale implementation based on the number of participating teachers and feedback collected during the pilot year.
The board did not take a vote on March 24; the item was presented for discussion and possible future action after pilot results and implementation planning.