What is ELS?

Our Approach
 • Phases of Work with ELS
 • Example of Year 1 with ELS
 • Becoming an ELS School

Professional Development

We Can Help You

See Our Results

Support Expeditionary Learning

Our Publications

Aprendizaje Expedicionario en Español


Becoming an Expeditionary Learning School

Becoming an Expeditionary Learning school is hard work and it takes time, but the results are worth it. It requires a commitment by the principal and teachers to EL's principles and core practices and, to an active and coherent program of teacher development to improve instruction and school culture. Generally speaking, it takes two to three years to get the basic practices in place, and five years before student achievement shows regular and reliable gains. For a concrete description of what the core practices look like when well-implemented in a school, click here.


I was about to participate in one of the most significant educational experiences of my life. I watched these students enjoying the excitement of discovery. It is likely that neither science nor school would ever be the same for them. I thought about the fact that this was "school," this was "my school," and it's the way school should be.”

-Mike McCarthy, Principal,King Middle School, Portland, Maine