The instructional materials reviewed for Grades K-2 meet expectations for Alignment to NGSS, Gateways 1 and 2. Gateway 1: Designed for NGSS; Criterion 1: Three-Dimensional Learning meets expectations. The materials include three-dimensional learning opportunities and opportunities for student sensemaking with the three dimensions. The formative and summative assessments consistently measure the three dimensions for their respective objectives. Criterion 2: Phenomena and Problems Drive Learning meets expectations. Phenomena and problems are present, connected to DCIs, and presented to students as directly as possible. The materials consistently elicit but inconsistently leverage student prior knowledge and experience related to the phenomena and problems present. Phenomena and problems consistently drive learning and use of the three dimensions at both the learning sequence and learning opportunity levels.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grades K-2 meet expectations for Gateway 2: Coherence and Scope. The materials connect units and chapters in a manner that is apparent to students, and student tasks increase in sophistication within and across units. The materials accurately represent the three dimensions across the series and only include scientific content appropriate to the grade level. Further, the materials include all DCI components and all elements for life science, physical science and earth and space science; and engineering, technology, and applications of science. The materials include all of the science and engineering practices at the grade band and all elements of the practices at grade level, with adequate opportunity for students to use practices repeatedly and in multiple contexts. The materials include all of the grade-band crosscutting concepts and provide repeated opportunities for students to use CCCs across the grade band. The materials include NGSS connections to Nature of Science and Engineering elements associated with the SEPs and/or CCCs.