2021-2026 Strategic Plan
The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) is transforming K-12 Education Through Science™ in collaboration with communities across the globe. To achieve our mission, we have three PROGRAMMATIC goals: STEM innovation, inclusion, and sustainability:
(1) Innovation - we promote authentic, inquiry-based K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teaching and learning;
(2) Inclusion - we ensure diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion (DEAI) in K-12 STEM education; and,
(3) Sustainability - we advance STEM education for sustainable development (STEM4SD).
We achieve our PROGRAMMATIC GOALS by:
- developing exemplary standards-aligned curriculum materials and digital resources (including our comprehensive K-8, research-based science curriculum program Smithsonian Science for the Classroom and Science and Technology Concepts for Middle School (STCMS), and our Smithsonian Science for Global Goals community research guides aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals);
- supporting the professional development of K-12 STEM/STEM4SD teachers and school leaders;
- building awareness for STEM education and providing leadership development through our Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) model and our Network for Emergent Socio-scientific Thinking (NESST); and,
- engaging in outreach and research.
SSEC has OPERATIONAL GOALS, which are clearly defined functions within SSEC that ensure SSEC can pursue its mission, vision, values, goals, and objectives. They align with the work of our Finance and Administration, Human Resources Office for Equal Employment and Opportunity, Advancement and Partnerships, and Executive Office. It is our promise to transform SSEC’s effectiveness and excellence, and position SSEC for success by achieving its organizational imperatives. For more information about how we are achieving these goals download our Annual Report.
SSEC has PAN-INSTITUTIONAL GOALS, which demonstrate that we are committed to establishing pan-institutional goals that allow us to collaborate with our Smithsonian colleagues, federal partners, and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) and InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) colleagues to translate scientific research and collections into meaningful tools and convenings for K–12 teachers and students to spark their interest in STEM; to ensure diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in K-12 STEM education; and to ensure a sustainable and scientifically literate planet.