The High School Research Initiative Prepares and Supports Texas Science Teachers Doing Research in Their Classrooms

Many Texas science teachers, especially in rural areas, lack access to content specific, inquiry-based professional development. To address this, UTeach and the Freshman Research Initiative partnered to create the High School Research Initiative (HRI), offering research-based curricula, training, and classroom support. The HRI leads teachers in a two-week research methods course and provides standard-aligned training in biomedical and behavioral research modules-Fish Behavior, Caffeinated Coli, Habitat Scouts, and Virtual Drug Screening-informed by active university research. Teachers receive lesson plans, activities, and materials to implement the modules in their classrooms. A mixed-methods evaluation revealed increased teacher preparedness, strong community support, and successful classroom integration. This paper outlines the HRIs' model, highlights its impact, and offers strategies for preparing in-service science teachers.