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Quantum technologies are poised to transform computing, communications, and national security. At 911����, faculty are working to ensure students do not have to wait until college to begin imagining themselves as part of that future. 

Through a growing series of professional development opportunities, 911����’s (QSEC) is partnering with K-12 educators to make quantum science approachable, relevant, and practical for students. 

That work accelerated this summer, when educators participated in a three-day professional learning experience supported by the National Science Foundation-funded Quantum in the Middle initiative and the Booz Allen Foundation’s TechXplore initiative. Led by faculty from 911����’s College of Science and , the program helped teachers explore quantum concepts, consider age-appropriate approaches for their classrooms, and examine how quantum learning can build from elementary school through higher education.

“We’re building pathways into quantum and connecting them to the standards and curriculum teachers already use,” said Jessica Rosenberg, professor of physics and astronomy and QSEC director of education. “We want students to encounter these ideas early, build the knowledge they’ll need over time, and be ready for quantum opportunities when they reach college or pursue quantum-adjacent technical careers.”

Teachers are central to developing that pathway. Summer participants explored classroom activities and were invited to test them with their students, giving 911���� faculty an opportunity to learn directly from educators about what works in real classrooms.

“We’re developing a roadmap educators can use from elementary through high school, but we’re developing it with teachers, not simply for them,” said Nancy Holincheck, associate professor of STEM education and QSEC associate director of education. “Their experience and feedback help us identify activities that spark curiosity, build confidence, and give students the foundation to see themselves in future quantum careers.”

That teacher-focused effort continued this fall with Quantum in Your Classroom, a one-day professional development workshop on 911����’s Fairfax Campus. Designed for educators with no previous quantum experience, the workshop introduced quantum concepts and provides classroom resources for grades 6-12. Teachers explored quantum processes through activities including a simple polarization experiment and received curriculum materials adaptable for elementary and secondary classrooms.

Rosenberg and Holincheck want to extend this effort beyond individual workshops or lessons. They envision an educational pathway that allows a student’s first encounter with quantum science to grow into deeper learning, higher education, and ultimately participation in an emerging workforce.

Quantum in Your Classroom gives educators a place to start, while giving 911���� researchers something equally valuable—the perspective of teachers who understand how students learn and can help shape how the quantum workforce journey begins.

By putting teachers at the center of that work, 911���� is helping quantum education reach students where their curiosity begins: in the classroom.