NURTURES (Phase 1: 2011-2017) was founded on the goal of creating an integrated system of science education for PreK-3rd grade, transforming the way in which PreK-3rd science is taught through the development and implementation of a complementary science education learning model that combines inquiry and learning, formal and informal education, teachers and parents, schools, and the community, in a comprehensive effort to improve science subject interest and science achievement.

Building on the success of the initial phase of the program, the aims of NURTURES (Phase 2: 2017-2020) were to transform early childhood science teaching based upon Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and engage families of PreK-3 students in science inquiry practices to measurably improve student science, literacy, and math achievement. A particularly important facet of this follow-up project was to research how each component (teacher professional development versus family engagement) impacts student learning.

NURTURES (Phase 3: 2020-Present) is funded to specifically work with military-connected teachers and their classroom families. In this latest phase, NURTURES is working with multiple site teams to implement teacher professional development and family engagement programming on a nationwide scale. The foci of this latest phase necessitates further program development and iterations on delivery methods as well as the development of formal facilitator training components to support the addition of multi-site teams.