January 14, 2026
This fall, the state of Tennessee is shifting to rigorous new learning goals, the Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, that will raise the bar for how science is taught and learned across K-12 classrooms. Across the state, school districts have selected new science programs to support their teachers and students to meet these new learning goals.
To ensure students in their districts reap all the benefits of this new approach, six districts across the state have joined the Eastern Tennessee Science Curriculum Initiative (ETSCI), a two-year program bringing school and district leaders together with the goal of improving science education.
Through ETSCI, leaders from Greeneville City Schools, Knox County Schools, Lenoir City Schools, McMinn County Schools, Oneida Special Schools, and Sevier County Schools are learning about the most effective ways to support teachers to use the new science curriculum. Experts in science education and standards implementation from WestEd, a nonprofit research, development and service agency, are leading the initiative.
Arconic Foundation, a grantmaking organization that partners with non-profits like WestEd to strengthen their local communities, is supporting this initiative. “Arconic Foundation is deeply committed to investing in initiatives that allow science education to thrive,” said Ryan Kish, Arconic Foundation President and Treasurer. “ETSCI is a unique, collaborative model that gives schools and educators the tools and support they need to chart the best path forward for science education in their community.”
Collaborative Problem-Solving in Action
ETSCI provides the school district teams with guidance and resources to do the work involved in putting their new science programs into practice, including setting goals, using tools to measure progress, and designing effective professional learning experiences for teachers and school administrators.
The initiative is already making a difference. “The support through ETSCI has been powerful and timely,” said Trudy Rogers, District Science Facilitator for Knox County Schools. “Participating in ETSCI sessions always helps reground us in our vision and keep the big picture in mind despite the hectic day-to-day life of supporting this work.”
Through in-person and virtual learning opportunities, regular coaching, and working together to develop new resources and share lessons learned, participating districts are learning about the most effective ways to implement their new curricula. ETSCI members are also sharing their successes with other districts across the state, including through the Tennessee Science Education Leaders Association.
The Stakes of Getting Implementation of New Science Programs Right
Purchasing and making the necessary changes to start using new instructional materials is one of the largest investments that school systems can make – often costing districts hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Yet, research shows that without proper implementation support, even the highest-quality materials fail to improve student outcomes.
“Districts spend their limited resources on new curriculum, but if leaders don’t have a clear plan to implement it effectively, that investment is wasted and students don’t benefit,” said, Jenny Sarna, Director of NextGenScience at WestEd, which launched the ETSCI initiative in 2024. “The ETSCI model demonstrates that strategic support for district leaders isn’t just helpful – it’s essential to improving teaching and learning.