EL Education Curriculum vs OpenSciEd
EL Education Curriculum
eleducation.orgOpenSciEd
openscied.orgSide by side
| Figure | EL Education Curriculum | OpenSciEd |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 4 |
| Spec score · K-12 Curriculum Platforms | 8.9 (#2) | 8.1 (#11) |
| Downloads | The curriculum index pages provide grade-level links and downloads, including Teacher’s Guide PDFs and Teacher Supporting Materials or Student Workbook Word documents. | Released units can be downloaded as PDFs or Google Drive files and downloaded as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint files. |
| Licence | The 2025 K-5 Language Arts curriculum is generally licensed Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0, with third-party content excluded from that licence. | Since October 18, 2023, classroom curriculum and professional-learning materials are generally under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0, with attribution and a site link required for noncommercial reuse. |
| Professional learning | The paid K-5 implementation course is self-paced, uses 15-25 minute mini-modules and targets teachers, coaches and school leaders. | OpenSciEd offers teacher academies, district services, self-guided learning paths, events and an on-demand support library. |
| What it does | EL Education provides a standards-aligned K-8 language arts curriculum built around knowledge-rich literacy, authentic texts, reading, writing, speaking, listening and student ownership. | OpenSciEd is a nonprofit organization providing phenomenon-based, NGSS-aligned science instructional materials for grades K–12. |
Plans
EL Education Curriculum
- EL Education Language Arts CurriculumFree
- EL Education Language Arts Curriculum digital resourcesFree
- K-5 Language Arts Curriculum 2025 Edition online course$350, paid once
- K-5 Language Arts Curriculum 2025 Edition professional learning course$350, paid once
OpenSciEd
- OpenSciEd core curriculumFree
- OpenSciEd curriculum and resourcesFree
- Certified distributor packagesPriced on request
- Packaged curriculum from certified distributorsPriced on request
In their own words
EL Education Curriculum
EL Education Curriculum is a free, web-based K–8 Language Arts curriculum for educators and schools. It is standards-aligned and includes teacher tools and built-in assessments. The design draws on the science of reading and the science of learning and development. Students use complex, grade-level texts by diverse authors while building science and social studies knowledge. Original research and interdisciplinary investigations develop inquiry, analysis, critical thinking, and craftsmanship. Differentiated opportunities address English language learners, economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and advanced learners. Connections to students’ communities support compassionate leadership and thoughtful citizenship. Grade-level index pages provide downloads such as Teacher’s Guide PDFs and Teacher Supporting Materials or Student Workbook Word documents. Creating an account provides access to hundreds of free resources. EL Education offers coaching and strategic planning for guided curriculum pilots. The digital resources plan costs nothing; some resources require an account. A 2025 K–5 professional learning course costs $350, paid once and provides 365-day access.
OpenSciEd
OpenSciEd creates free science curriculum materials and professional learning resources for educators, with NGSS alignment across elementary, middle and high school. Its lessons center on scientific phenomena and student questioning, investigation and problem-solving; teachers are encouraged to adapt them. Released units can be downloaded as PDFs, Google Drive files, Word documents or PowerPoint files, and some are available in Google Classroom or Canvas versions. Free self-guided learning paths and an on-demand support library provide videos and resources for unit preparation, classroom routines and anticipating student ideas. Registration is required to access the materials and is intended for educators or parents, not K–12 students. Middle school materials use CC BY 4.0; elementary and high school materials use CC-BY-NC licensing, with noncommercial 5R permissions free and perpetual. OpenSciEd High School offers three NGSS courses. The organization describes itself as an independent nonprofit, and the website is listed for web access.