Today’s educators face a historic challenge. With engagement sliding, outcomes at risk, and students yearning for teaching that is affirming and meaningful, we need a fresh approach — one that feeds educators’ passion and fortifies instruction.
GLEAM instruction is the most impactful strategy for breaking the predictability of historic achievement patterns so all kids thrive. At Standards Institute, courageous educators come together from across the country to forge a bold path toward truly transformative teaching and learning.
Our engaging, immersive pathways invite educators to experience, understand, and practice transformative instruction and leadership. Participants will reflect on current practice, commit to an action plan, and leave equipped and inspired to make every classroom GLEAM.
What to Expect
At Standards Institute, educators will learn:
- Content-specific, grade-level standards deeply
- To maintain academic rigor by fostering productive struggle and scaffolding
- Strategies for ensuring affirming and meaningful teaching and learning
- How to plan, design, and deliver GLEAM instruction
Educators will leave Standards Institute with:
- A shared understanding and language for fostering GLEAM instruction
- The mindsets, planning, skills, tools, and actions to deliver GLEAM instruction
- A personalized action plan with context-specific opportunities to ensure GLEAM instruction
Why Standards Institute is Different
Standards Institute is not a traditional conference or workshop but an immersive 30-hour in-person course-like experience, where educators from around the nation actively come together in content- and grade-specific cohorts to hone their craft and make their instructional practices grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM.
Over four days, educators learn to unpack and understand standards, scaffold instruction, and foster productive struggle. Educators leave equipped to uphold academic rigor, make teaching and learning engaging and affirming, and improve outcomes for all students.
Start your GLEAM Journey at Standards Institute.
UnboundEd Pathways
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UnboundEd Planning Process Pathway
UnboundEd Planning Process™ (UPPⓇ) sessions introduce participants to a set of powerful practices for bringing GLEAM™ instruction to life in ELA and math classrooms. For each planning practice, educators will:
- Use a math or ELA lesson to explore each practice
- Learn a step-by-step recipe for using the practices with any content
- Apply the practices to a set of high-quality lessons
- Leave with a repertoire of instructional strategies and tools they will be able to embed into their daily lesson-planning practices
Note: K-5 participants will use both ELA and math lessons during the week; participants in grades 6-12 will use lessons in their preferred subject area — either ELA or math. Although the example lessons for Standards Institute are math and ELA, this process for embedding GLEAM instruction is transferable across any grade level or content area.
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English Language Arts (ELA) Pathway
Standards Institute™ ELA sessions focus on the supports and scaffolds that work to address students’ unfinished ELA instruction while maintaining the rigor of grade-level standards and curriculum. Educators will:
- Explore the commitment, knowledge, and skills necessary to use ELA standards, texts, and tasks to provide all students access to grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM — instruction
- Leave with a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life in their ELA classrooms
ELA Grade-Bands: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
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Instructional Leadership Pathway
The Leadership Pathway gives school and district leaders a foundation in the key concepts of ELA and math instruction in order to develop a deeper understanding of both subject areas. Participants will:
- Consider key components of planning, instructional delivery, and coaching that lead to grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM — instruction.
- Assess their roles as leaders in advancing effective instruction
- Leave with a personal action plan to lead GLEAM instruction in their schools
Leadership Grade-Bands: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
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Math Pathway
Standards Institute™ Math sessions offer participants interactive, hands-on experience planning and implementing grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM — mathematics instruction. Educators will:
- Reflect on math identities and their impact on GLEAM math instruction
- Deepen their understanding of math instructional shifts (focus, coherence, rigor) to support GLEAM math instruction
- Learn a new approach to address students’ unfinished instruction that supports GLEAM math instruction within their school contexts
- Leave with a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life in their math classrooms
Math Grade-Bands: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
Location: Little Village Lawndale High School, Chicago, IL
The July 2025 Standards Institute will be held at the Little Village Lawndale High School, (3120 S Kostner Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60623).
Daily Schedule at a Glance
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Monday, July 7th
Registration Open
Please stop by our Registration Check-in desk to let us know you’ve arrived and pick up your Conference Badge and your UnboundEd Swag!
Morning Break
15-minute break
Pathway Learning
Morning learning session
Lunch
Lunch break on site
Pathway Learning
Lunch break on site
Afternoon Break
15-minute break
Team Time
Team planning time
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Tuesday, July 8th
Keynote Address
Day 2 Keynote
Morning Break
15-minute break
Pathway Learning
Morning learning session
Lunch
Lunch break on site
Pathway Learning
Afternoon learning session
Afternoon Break
15-minute break
Team Time
Team planning time
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Wednesday, July 9th
Morning Session (No Keynote)
No Keynote on Day 3 – Morning learning session
Morning Break
15-minute break
Pathway Learning
Morning learning session continued
Lunch
Lunch break on site
Pathway Learning
Afternoon learning session
Afternoon Break
15-minute break
Team Time
Team planning time
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Thursday, July 10th
Keynote Address
Day 4 Keynote
Morning Break
15-minute break
Pathway Learning
Morning learning session
Lunch
Lunch break on site
Pathway Learning
Afternoon learning session
Afternoon Break
15-minute break
Team Time (Optional)
Team planning time
About the Event
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How long is the Local Standards Institute?
The Local Standards Institute will last four full days.
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Who can I reach out to if I have any questions prior to the start of the event?
Please contact us at the following email: SupportDesk@UnboundEd.org.
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What is the schedule for the event?
Please see the agenda tab for the full schedule.
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Do you provide Participation Certificates after Standards Institute?
Yes. Participation Certificates are sent to the email address provided during registration within three weeks after attending the Standards Institute. It will include the pathway and session attended as well as the total hours completed. Please note that Participation Certificates are only provided to those participants who attend all four days of the event. We do not provide CEUs or other credits.
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Who will speak at the event?
Keynote Speakers will be on the About tab above.
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Do I have to check in when I am there?
Yes. Please stop by our Registration Check-in area to get your badge.
Attending the Event
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Can I attend some of the days/partially? Do I have to attend all days to receive a participation certificate?
Participants are required to attend all four days of the event in the same Pathway and grade band they registered for. Those attending all four days will receive a participation certificate.
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Can my group meet together as a team at any point during the event?
Yes, school districts/organizations attending Standards Institute will have ample opportunities to meet daily for Team Time (at the end of each day). Your team will be able to reflect on the overall learning from the event, discuss implications, and determine the priority actions to take when you return to your school district or network.
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I’ve attended a Standards Institute in the past; will the content be different? What is your recommendation if I wish to attend this time?
Our pathways content has been updated to focus on equitable instructional practices and examining bias focused on planning toward grade-level engaging, affirming, and meaningful (GLEAM™) instruction. If you are attending again, we recommend taking the UnboundEd Planning Process™ pathway, which introduces participants to a set of powerful practices for bringing GLEAM™ instruction to life in ELA and math classrooms. Please note: these pathways are geared toward teachers, so if you are a coach or leader, please come with your “teacher lens” during the learning. You can find more information about all pathways being offered by clicking the Pathways tab above.
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I’ve taken Pathway 1 at a previous Standards Institute - is Level 2 offered?
Unfortunately, there was not enough interest in the past in the Level 2 pathways, so we were unable to continue them for 2025. You can find more information on the Pathways tab above.
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I attended one of your two-day summits. Will the content be different at Standards Institute?
Standards Institute is an immersive and transformative four-day in-person learning experience appropriate for teachers, coaches, and leaders. This highly interactive experience focuses on the mindsets, planning, and instructional actions required for implementing grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful (GLEAM™) instruction. They will identify specific mindsets and practices that embody GLEAM instruction for their chosen pathway. Throughout the sessions, participants will reflect on and commit to specific action steps aligned with GLEAM instruction in their chosen pathway. Participants leave Standards Institute with a repertoire of practical strategies and a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life. You can find more information on the “Pathways” tab above.
Registration
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How do I register for this event?
You can register for the Local Standards Institute via the Register Now button at the top of this page. Registration will close one week prior to the start of the event.
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How can I update my registration? I signed up for the wrong pathway/grade band. Can I change my registration?
You can modify your registration until one week prior to the event by contacting supportdesk@unbounded.org.
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Can I switch or swap my registration to be with my colleagues in the same room?
Local Standards Institute participants are placed in sessions randomly to learn from one another. Changing sessions at the Standards Institute will not be allowed.
Food
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I have dietary restrictions. Who should I contact so my meals are appropriate for my dietary needs?
Please indicate any dietary restrictions when you register. If you have additional questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at SupportDesk@unbounded.org.
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How will the meals be served?
Lunch will be served buffet style on Monday through Thursday.
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What meals are included?
We will provide lunch and snacks, including beverages. Breakfast and dinner are not provided.
Social Media
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How can I use social media at the event?
Post, share, connect, and engage!
The fun part about social media is that it allows you to share all the great things you’re doing and learning at the UnboundEd Standards Institute, and more importantly, connect with fellow educators.
Event Hashtag: #StandardsInstitute