Science

K-12 Science Update: October, 2026

K-12 Science

This update contains the latest announcements and current news impacting K-12 Science in North Carolina public schools. We encourage those of you who receive the updates to please share this issue with others who are not currently subscribed to our listserv. To receive K-12 Science updates, please sign up using the following link: K-12 Science Listserv Update.

If you would like to share any upcoming events, professional learning opportunities, instructional resources, or award/grant opportunities with the NCDPI K-12 Science Listserv, please send a brief explanation or description, image, and any pertinent additional information by the 4th of each month to the K-12 Science Newsletter Submission Form.

K-12 Math Standards Update

The NCDPI K-12 Math team is excited to announce that during the October 1, 2026, North Carolina State Board of Education meeting, the Board adopted the proposed 2026 K-12 Mathematics Standard Course of Study. This milestone follows a comprehensive review and revision process informed by more than two years of feedback from educators, administrators, families, students, institutions of higher education, business and industry representatives, national organizations, charter schools, and school districts across the state. The approved standards reflect the work of over 70 educators from across North Carolina, including teachers from every grade level, school and district instructional leaders, and faculty representing both math and math education from the NC Community College System and UNC System campuses. The 2026 K-12 Math Standard Course of Study and supporting crosswalks are available below:

The remainder of the 2026–2027 school year and the entire 2027–2028 school year will serve as the installation period for the new standards. The current K-12 Mathematics Standards will remain in effect throughout this period. During installation, the NCDPI K-12 Mathematics Team will collaborate with state, district, and school leaders; educators; school counselors; and other stakeholder groups to provide professional learning and resources to support local installation and implementation. Implementation of the newly adopted standards will begin with the start of the 2028–2029 school year.

NCDPI sincerely appreciates everyone who contributed time, expertise, and thoughtful feedback throughout the review and revision process. NCDPI will share additional information, resources, and professional learning opportunities through the NCDPI K–12 Math Hub, the NCDPI Mathematics webpage, and the K-12 Mathematics listservs. To subscribe to the K-12 Mathematics listserv, visit NCDPI Updates and select the mathematics newsletters you would like to receive.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the K-12 Math team members.

Dr. Charles Aiken (charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov) - NCDPI Section Chief for Math, Science and STEM

Jennifer Parker (jennifer.parker@dpi.nc.gov) - K-5 Math Consultant

Tammy Lackey (tammy.lackey@dpi.nc.gov) - 6th-8th Grade Math Consultant

Dr. Lisa Ashe (lisa.ashe@dpi.nc.gov) - 9th-12th Grade Math Consultant

Joseph Reaper (joseph.reaper@dpi.nc.gov) - 9th-12th Grade Math Consultant

Update Includes:

Professional Learning Opportunities

NCDPI K-12 Science Ambitious Science Teaching (AST) Book Study
NCDPI K-12 Science 2026-2027 Office Hours
American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) AI Leadership Working Group Opportunity
AQ-IQ Contest for NC 7th Grade Students

Instructional Resources

The Multilingual Multimodal Science Inventory (M2-Si)
Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™
NCDPI K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub
Updated Periodic Table of Elements
Updated Biology and Chemistry Reference Tables

Awards, Grants, and Other Opportunities

North Carolina Science Curriculum Collaborative
Toshiba America Foundation STEM Grant: Grades 6-12

Office of Teaching and Learning: News & Updates

2026-2027 OTL Statewide Professional Learning
ML/Title III Webinar Series
ADA Accessibility

Professional Learning Opportunities

The K-12 Science Team at NCDPI is offering a professional development book study based on Ambitious Science Teaching by Mark Windschitl, Jessica Thompson, and Melissa Braaten.

Participants will collaborate with fellow educators to:

Explore effective instructional strategies.
Share instructional practices and best practices.
Learn about tools and resources from Ambitious Science Teaching.
Increase student engagement and sensemaking.
Reflect on and refine K-12 science instruction.

Participants are encouraged to purchase or borrow a copy of the book to support their learning.

Online Session Dates:

October 27, 2026
December 1, 2026
January 26, 2027
February 23, 2027
March 9, 2027
April 20, 2027

Certificates of attendance will be provided for each session after participants submit a Google Form reflection.

The Book Study session for September is ready to view! Visit the AST Book Study Hub for the most recent book study presentation slides.

Join us on October 22 from 3:30 to 4:30 for Supporting Multilingual Learners in the Science Classroom. This session will focus on strategies to include multilingual learners and how scaffolding in a science lesson can benefit multilingual learner's understanding of the content.

The K-12 Science Section will offer office hours during the 2026-27 School Year. Each session will focus on a particular topic and target a specific audience. Information about upcoming sessions and registration can also be found on the K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub.

Certificates of attendance will be provided for each session to participants who attend the full hour.

Office Hours Descriptions and Registrations

American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) AI Leadership Working Group Opportunity

The AAPT AI Leadership Working Group is looking for 10 educators (K–12, TYC, Higher Ed) for a 1-year action-research project on AI in physics education.

- Travel support: Up to $1,800 reimbursement to the AAPT Winter Meeting

- Kickoff: Jan 8–11 in New Orleans

- No prior AI technical expertise is required. We are looking for a range of experiences with AI!

Deadline: October 12

Information and Application

AQ-IQ Contest for North Carolina 7th Grade Students

Hello 7th grade Educators, and welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!

As you are creating lesson plans and preparing for the year ahead, what better way to get your students involved in REAL WORLD learning AND introduce a new PROJECT-BASED activity than a STATEWIDE CONTEST that meets the North Carolina Science Standards!

Each year the North Carolina Division of Air Quality invites 7th grade students to participate in the AQ-IQ Contest which combines S.T.E.A.M. education and project-based learning with student creativity to teach air pollution science to students across the state. The contest gives these students an opportunity to learn about air quality and think about solutions to air pollution and put THEM in charge of creating a project to educate others about an air quality problem.

The AQ-IQ contest allows students to explore their interests and strengths while engaging with the material and learning about air quality. Students are asked to think creatively while designing their projects. Past projects have been posters, videos, Minecraft creations, games, and artistic projects off all sorts!

Each year the AQ-IQ Contest highlights special topic areas with additional recognition because they highlight current air quality challenges, successes, and educational goals. The topics for 2026-2027 contest are:

From the Directors Office: 25 years of the NC Clean Smokestacks Act (Enacted June 20, 2002) - Celebration is near! On June 20, 2027, we will be celebrating 25 years of the NC Clean Smokestacks Act. The NC Clean Smokestacks Act was created to cut air pollution from the state’s coal fired power plants. This helped create cleaner air, removed haze from the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains, and improved the health of all North Carolinians. Help us celebrate clean air through your project.

In the news: Wildfire Smoke: Impacts of wildfire smoke on air quality and health – Cough. Cough. "Did you know wildfire smoke can travel far beyond the location of the fire?" Explore how wildfire smoke is made, investigate how it changes the air quality as it travels, and discover why certain pollutants can pose risk to human health.

Camera, Lights, Action, Sing! Air pollution in song and film – We’re looking for projects that bring all the drama to the big DEQ screen. Whether you are singing an original air quality song, acting out a skit about an air quality challenge, or filming your own air quality news, we want to see all your creativity and learn about how we can work to keep the air clean for all.

Air Quality Acronyms – Give me a “A”, Give me a “I”, Give me a “R”, what does that stand for? AIR. This special topic explores acronyms commonly found in an Air Quality specialist’s vocabulary. From AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and NAAQS, there are many acronyms used to help scientists and communities understand what’s in the air, and how it affects health and the environment. Explore the meaning of one, or a few, of these acronyms and develop your own creative way to help others understand these important air-quality terms.

Winners will be recognized at a REGIONAL and STATEWIDE level and will receive AWESOME prizes!

This year, projects are due to the NC Division of Air Quality by March 8, 2027! So, PLENTY of time for students to make the most amazing project!

For details about how to enter, general information and past project examples, please visit the NC Environmental Education webpage. This is a great resource to utilize as your students are starting to work on their projects (“How To” Guide for Teachers and Students, examples of past projects, Submission link, AND SO MUCH MORE!)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Keith Bamberger at keith.bamberger@deq.nc.gov, or Janina Millis at janina.millis@deq.nc.gov.

Learn More About the Contest

Instructional Resources

The Multilingual Multimodal Science Inventory (M2-Si)

The Multilingual Multimodal Science Inventory (M2-Si)Links to an external site. is a collaborative project between NCDPI and the Center for Applied LinguisticsLinks to an external site.. M2-Si is a research-based e-portfolio assessment that educators can use to adjust instruction. It is intended to increase proficiency of students in grades 3-5 science. The assessment design centers multilingual students and supports educators in understanding what students know and can do in science, not just what students know and can do in science in English. Each activity is designed so that students may interact and respond in using all and any of their linguistic resources. Activities are also designed so that students can use other expressive modalities such as drawing, recording digital audio or video files, or making models.

Each activity is aligned with standards and objectives in the 2023 North Carolina Standard Course of Study, K-12 Science.

We invite you to explore our innovative e-portfolio infused with multilingual and multimodal supports. You’ll leave with classroom-ready resources and best practices for implementation.

M2-Si Activities

M2-Si 2025-2026 Activity Homepage

Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™

The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program is pleased to share new and updated curriculum resources that help students learn about environmental health and lead in drinking water through engaging, classroom-ready lessons. As part of North Carolina’s effort to address lead and asbestos hazards in public schools and licensed child care facilities, the program provides educational resources that support healthy learning environments and increase awareness of environmental health topics.

The refreshed curriculum features free K-12 lessons, activities, and Project-Based Learning Units, organized by grade band and designed for use across disciplines, in social studies, ELA, math, and science. To support multi-cultural learning communities, many resources are available in Spanish.

Educators are invited to explore the updated curriculum and discover ready-to-use resources that can enhance instruction, engage students in real-world learning, and support the lead exposure prevention work that’s been ongoing in North Carolina schools through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program, and in programs across the country.

Please share this opportunity with educators and school staff across your network.

Access the Curriculum

Questions and Contact Information

K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub

The NCDPI K-12 Science team has created a repository to provide a variety of resources for supporting school leaders, administrators, educators, and parents/caregivers. The NC K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub houses the standards, communications, and recommended resources related to the implementation of the North Carolina K-12 Math Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS).

The hub includes:

K-12 science standards and support documents
Previous PD presentations, recordings, and resources
At Home Resource Guides for parent/guardians
STEM Content Integration

Science educators are encouraged to browse, reference, download, share, discuss, and adapt resources.

Browse the Science Standards Resource Hub

The Periodic Table of the Elements, Biology Reference Table - Amino Acid Sequence Chart, Chemistry Reference Table, and Physical Science Reference Table are updated to use for classroom instruction and assessment. You will find links to them in the K-12 Science Support Documents section on the K-12 Science Resource Hub. You can also click on the individual buttons below for faster access.

Periodic Table of Elements

Biology Reference Table - Amino Acid Sequence Chart

Chemistry Reference Table

Physical Science Reference Table

Awards, Grants, and Other Opportunities

North Carolina Science Curriculum Collaborative

The Science House is looking for a small cohort of North Carolina middle school science educators to help us develop classroom-ready, research-based instructional units aligned with the NC Science Standards. We have the foundation and resources in place. Now we need thoughtful, creative classroom teachers to help us turn them into cohesive, practical units using modeling that we can share freely with science teachers across North Carolina.

This is a stipend opportunity. Selected educators will learn about modeling instruction, work in grade-level teams to review and curate existing resources, develop and refine lessons, and help create materials designed with real classrooms and real students in mind.

Our in-person collaborative work days will be held from 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on:

December 15
February 23
April 21
Fourth collaborative date TBD

Participants will also collaborate virtually with their teams between sessions.

We are looking for educators who are passionate about student-centered science instruction, collaboration, and making great teaching resources accessible to educators across our state. Previous Modeling Instruction training is preferred, but it is not required to apply.

You don't need to be a professional curriculum writer. We want great teachers who know what works with students and are willing to bring their ideas, experience, and teacher perspective to the table.

Applications are due November 16.

We hope you'll consider joining us!

Click to Apply

Toshiba America Foundation STEM Grant: Grades 6-12

Calling All Middle and High School Educators!

Are you a teacher with a groundbreaking idea to transform STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in your classroom? If you’re looking to implement project-based learning with measurable outcomes and make STEM subjects a thrilling experience for your students, we’re here to support you.

Click to Apply

Office of Teaching and Learning: News & Updates

2026-2027 OTL Statewide Professional Learning

The NCDPI Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) provides leadership and support for the review, revision, installation, and implementation of the NC Standard Course of Study, which includes resources and professional learning for providing high-quality, standards-aligned core instruction for every K–12 student.

Use this guide to register for professional learning and access newly released resources during the 2026- 2027 school year.

ML/Title III Webinar Series

The ML/Title III team is offering a PD Series Unpacking Language Demands in Content Standards to deepen understanding of language development and its role in content-area instruction for multilingual learners (MLs). Participants will explore connections between language and academic standards, analyze language demands in classroom tasks, and develop collaborative planning and instructional strategies. This series supports Principle #2: Strengthen Core Instruction, Priority 1 Key Action for the Classroom in the ML/Title III Strategic Framework.

Build your foundational knowledge of second language acquisition and examine how multilingual learners develop language across listening, speaking, reading, and writing domains. The session will explore factors that influence language development and implications for classroom instruction. Participants will engage in learning that advances Principle 2: Strengthen Core Instruction Priority 1 - Key Action for the Classroom identified in the ML/Title III Framework.

How Language Functions within the Content Area Classroom, December 2, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Unpacking Language in Content Area Standards, February 10, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Co-planning and Co-teaching Aligned Instruction for ML Success, April 14, 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Update on Ensuring ADA Accessibility

On April 20, the U.S. Department of Justice extended the compliance deadline for the ADA Title II web and mobile application accessibility rule. NCDPI's new deadline is April 26, 2027, giving approximately one additional year to meet the requirements.

The extension does not change the work to ensure we meet obligations under the ADA to make documents, websites, and materials accessible. In the short term, the Science Resource Hub will remain available, as will all of the documents currently posted. Over the next year, the team will continue working to address and remediate previously published documents, presentations, and videos.

To appropriately address ADA requirements, the format and structure of some documents may need to be altered. The K-12 Science team has already addressed the accessibility of the following resources:

K-12 Standard Course of Study (English and Spanish)
Support Documents for all grades/courses and the Formative Assessment examples
2023 K-12 Science Standards crosswalks to 2009 Standards
NC K-12 Science Domains and Standards spreadsheet
NC Science Formative Assessment Probe Alignment Guide

These resources have been posted on the K-12 Science Landing page, which can be accessed by clicking on the following link: K-12 Science Standards and Supports

If you need access to a document that is currently unavailable, please contact the corresponding person and content area below. We will provide the requested materials as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to enhance our website’s accessibility for all users.

Office of Teaching and Learning General Information, Global Education - kelly.schultz@dpi.nc.gov

Science, Math, and STEM - charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov

Social Studies, Arts Education, Character Education, Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act - lori.carlin@dpi.nc.gov

English Language Arts, English Language Development, Literacy Instruction Standards, World Languages, Dual Language/Immersion - stacy.daniel@dpi.nc.gov

Healthy Schools - ellen.essick@dpi.nc.gov

NCDPI Science Consultants

Dr. Debra Hall

K-5 Science

debra.hall@dpi.nc.gov

Gavin Fradel

6-8 Science

gavin.fradel@dpi.nc.gov

Benita Tipton

9-12 Science

benita.tipton@dpi.nc.gov

Alexis Wood

9-12 Science

kathryn.wood@dpi.nc.gov

Additional Contacts

Dr. Charles Aiken

Section Chief K-12 Mathematics, Science and STEM

charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov

Howard Ginsburg

K-12 Integrative STEM Specialist

howard.ginsburg@dpi.nc.gov

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