Leading & Learning 21

Welcome to the September 2025 edition of Leading & Learning 21!

In this issue, we're diving into Back-to-School Leadership Priorities—empowering you to lead the year with intentional routines, purposeful collaboration, and strong instructional direction. You'll discover:

• Insights on reinforcing instructional leadership to elevate teaching quality and student engagement.

• A spotlight on building effective PLCs, featuring support opportunities through our C&I / Ed Tech team and registration for Content-Area Networking Groups.

• Tools and leadership resources to support high-impact routines and instructional cohesion.

• Professional learning opportunities, including workshop highlights and how to get involved.

• Key updates from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to keep you aligned with statewide initiatives.

Together, these resources lay the foundation for a collaborative, innovative start to the 2025–26 school year.

As we step into the new school year, intentionally re-establishing routines, fostering collaboration through Professional Learning Communities, and reinforcing instructional leadership are essential practices. These strategies not only support strong instructional culture but also create the space to spotlight attendance as a foundational value.

A recent CityGov blog, “Overcoming Barriers to Professional Learning Communities,” reminds leaders that effective PLCs require intentional design and support—not luck. As leaders, your vision, facilitation, and alignment are essential to making PLCs sustainable.

At CLIU 21, our C&I/Educational Technology team is ready to support you in:

• Designing PLC protocols and facilitator roles
• Coordinating Content-Area Networking Groups for Teacher Leaders. Register through our Event Center.
• Embedding routines that support shared leadership—and reinforce attendance and engagement from the start

Join us in building PLCs that endure and make an impact.

Ready to get started with PLCs in your schools? Send teacher leaders to networking groups by content area or reach out to our C&I team to design a customized PLC launch plan for a department or team in your school.

🌟 Making the PSAT a Moment that Matters
Wednesday, September 10 at 3:00 PM ET
Learn how to turn PSAT/NMSQT test day into a confidence-building, purpose-driven experience for every student.
👉 Register Now

🗣️ Can AP Seminar serve as English 10? See How PA Districts Are Leading the Way

Wednesday, September 17 at 3:00 PM ET

Join us for a free webinar spotlighting how districts across Pennsylvania are using AP Seminar as a 10th grade English course to boost literacy, expand access to advanced coursework, and support Keystone Literature exam prep.

👉 Register Now

🔢 Introducing AP Precalculus hosted by PARSS
Thursday, September 25 at 3:30 PM ET

Discover how AP Precalculus builds a stronger bridge between Algebra 2 and advanced math. Learn how the course expands access, prepares students for AP Calculus and college-level STEM, and supports equity in advanced pathways.

👉 Register Now

📊 AP Insights for Leaders: Using AP Classroom and the Instructional Planning Report
Wednesday, October 1 at 3:00 PM ET
Explore how AP tools and data can drive stronger instruction, collaboration, and outcomes across your AP program.
👉 Register Now

🔥 Trending Now: AP Career Kickstart Courses

- Excitement is building for our new AP Career Kickstart courses - AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity - launching in 26–27. These courses give students a head start in high-demand fields while earning college credit, expanding access, and opening new pathways for success.

- In PA, AP Business with Personal Finance aligns with the new personal finance graduation requirement, and both courses support Act 158, CEWs, and the Future Ready PA Index - powerful tools to prepare students for college, careers, and beyond.

- Webinar: Introducing AP Career Kickstart for Career Ready PA

o Friday, September 26, at 10:00 AM ET

o Join us for a focused 45-minute session to get a first look at these courses, explore real-world applications, and discuss implementation strategies.

o 👉 Register here

The AP Career Kickstart Showcase is a free, full-day event designed for school and district leaders, department chairs, and teachers to explore two new AP courses launching in the 26-27 school year that expand access to postsecondary and workforce readiness pathways:

• AP Business with Personal Finance
• AP Cybersecurity

Through interactive mock classes, debriefs, and structured planning, teams will experience the courses firsthand and develop strategies for implementation. Participants may choose to attend one session or both. Lunch is included for all participants. Space is limited, and registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

When: November 10, 2025 – 9:30am-2:30pm

• AP Business with Personal Finance: 9:30am-12:15pm
• AP Cybersecurity: 11:30am-2:30pm

Where: Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit, 4210 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA 18078

👉 Register here by November 5: https://eventreg.collegeboard.org/B2kPXL

The Pennsylvania Firefly Student Progress Indicators are a set of online assessments, divided by the following content areas: ELA, Mathematics, Science, Algebra I, Biology and Literature. Firefly is designed to complete Pennsylvania’s innovative assessment system by adding a high-quality benchmark assessment to the Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) and summative assessments (PSSA and Keystone Exams) already provided.

In 2024-2025 over 380,000 administrations of the Firefly were given in PA. With the addition of Science 5 and 8 and Biology; more administrations are expected this year.

New this year, Firefly reports will include prediction for Math and ELA with Group Performance reporting coming later in this school year.

Learn more about Firefly Assessments.

Reach out to CLIU Facilitators to schedule consultation and/or training for your team.

Tonya Swavely (swavelyt@cliu.org), Staff Development Facilitator

PDE is once again funding the Supporting Technology & Engineering in Pennsylvania with Engineering byDesign Initiative (STEP w/EbD) for its fourth year. As part of this initiative, Pennsylvania educators will continue to receive free access to curricular resources as well as opportunities to participate in 2-day or 1-day workshops hosted at IUs.

About Engineering byDesign (EbD):
Developed by the International Technology & Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA), EbD is fully aligned with the 2020 Standards for Technological & Engineering Literacy (STEL). Since the STEELS Technology & Engineering standards closely mirror the STEL, EbD offers an excellent solution for LEAs to implement the STEELS T&E standards. Additionally, EbD aligns with:

* Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
* Common Core Math and ELA Standards
* The National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges for Engineering

2025–2026 STEP w/EbD Initiative

*Fully Funded PK–12 Engineering byDesign (EbD) Resources
Pennsylvania educators will receive free access to the ITEEA EbD Essential Learning Edition (a value of up to $3,400 annually). This project-based resource supports STEELS-aligned instruction and emphasizes authentic problem-solving and critical thinking across PK–12.

* How to Request Access – Quick Steps

1. Log in to your ITEEA account (or create a free one if you don’t have one yet).

2. Complete the EbD Essential Learning Edition Access Form.

3. Upon approval, you'll receive confirmation and gain access via Google Drive.

4. Explore the full curriculum and start integrating EbD into your classroom!

Watch for PD Opportunities held at Intermediate Units across PA!

Join us as we explore Pennsylvania’s new STEELS standards through a four-part professional learning series designed for educators and leaders. Each session provides practical strategies, hands-on learning, and collaborative planning time to help you confidently implement the STEELS standards in your classrooms and districts.

Participants will:

• Gain a deep understanding of the STEELS framework and its emphasis on inquiry, sustainability, and real-world application.

• Explore instructional shifts needed to bring the standards to life.

• Collaborate with colleagues across content areas to design engaging, standards-aligned learning experiences.

• Leave each session with tools, resources, and next steps tailored to your school or district.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, curriculum leader, or administrator, this series will equip you to lead the way in bringing STEELS to practice.

👉 Register now through the CLIU 21 Event Center

We are pleased to announce the launch of the CLIU Event Center, a new centralized platform for registering for workshops, network groups, and CPE courses offered by Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21.

The CLIU Event Center is designed to enhance the user experience with intuitive tools and flexible features for both staff and administrators.

Key Features of the CLIU Event Center:

• Public Event Access: View all available professional learning opportunities in both calendar and list formats—no login required.
• Powerful Search & Filters: Easily locate events by keyword, date, category, location, or other criteria.
• Flexible Payment Options: Pay by credit card, purchase order, or select a bill me later option.
• Act 48 & Act 45 Reporting: Eligible hours are submitted automatically upon verified attendance and course completion.
• Instant Documentation: Participants can directly access and download completion certificates and/or letters.
• Self-Service Account Setup: Users can create their free accounts using their school email address, enabling personalized registration tracking and document access.

🔗 Access the CLIU Event Center here:
https://reg.learningstream.com/view/view_month.aspx?as=93&wp=449&aid=CLIU21

We encourage you to share this link with your staff and support them in creating their accounts. We are continuing to add events for the 2025-2026 school year, but you should easily be able to find Fall Networking Groups, Workshops, CPE Courses, and other events immediately. Our team is available to assist with any questions during this transition at events@cliu.org.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting high-quality professional learning.