Programs that Support Change

Increasing achievement, equity and teacher effectiveness requires reframing curriculum and instruction so that it is integrated, rigorous, and relevant to students' lives and communities.

Our leveled programs provide a gradual process to help you transition to new ways of teaching and learning. Each level offers customized packages of professional development, curriculum licensing, and guided planning scaled to your institution’s level of readiness.

Level I) Imagine the Change:  Defining a vision is the first step of any change process.  These 1-2 day introductory programs help educators define possibilities for using sustainability as a context for innovatiaon. Example: We provided 1-day programs to Washtenaw Community College and Western Michigan University focused on helping faculty envision strategies for integrating sustainability across disciplines

Level II) Plan the Change:  Effective change requires a systemic plan.  Our Plan the Change programs provide 3-6 months of strategic planning to help institutions define goals, strategies, evaluation, and a timeline.  The work is guided by our Instruction Change framework, a needs assessment tool that examines institutional culture, curriculum, professional development, and other factors affecting the successful integration of sustainability.  Example: We supported a consortium of 4 districts in 2 states to develop strategic plans for integrating sustainability into courses and curriculum maps.

Level III) Begin the Change:  Once a plan is in place, institutions need time and support to transform courses and programs.  Begin the Change programs provide customized staff development, curriculum licensing, and technical assistance over a timeframe of 1-2 years. Example: We helped the River Rouge (MI) schools boost achievement by 30% on key standards through a 1-year program focused on integrating food systems and project-based learning across the curriculum. 


Level IV) Sustain the Change:  These extended programs include staff development, curriculum licensing, and on-going planning focused on building internal capacity.  Example: We’re working with the Oberlin City Schools to deeply embed sustainability into curriculum in ways that support current initiatives and the Oberlin Project, a community-wide sustainability initiative.  The program provides lead teachers with professional development and curriculum, and supports them to replicate approaches with colleagues while connecting to community initiatives.

View programs by content area:

• Ecological Footprint
• Sustainable by Design
• Our Town (sustainable communities)
• Economics for the Common Good
• Sustainable Energy Systems
• A Taste of Change (food systems)
• All Together Now (multiculturalism)