Coordinated Science for the 21st Century is an innovative core curricula assembled from four proven inquiry-based programs. It is supported by the National Science Foundation and was developed by leading educators and scientists. Unit 1, Active Physics, was developed by the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics.

Both Active Physics and Active Chemistry, Units 1 and 2, are projects directed by Arthur Eisenkraft, Ph.D., past president of the NSTA.

Active Biology, Unit 3, was developed to follow the same Active-Learning Instructional Model as Active Physics and Active Chemistry.

EarthComm, Unit 4, was developed by the American Geological Institute, under the guidance of Michael Smith, Ph.D., former Director of Education and Outreach, and John Southard, Ph.D., of MIT.

Each unit of this course has been designed and built on the National Science Education Standards. Each utilizes the same instructional model and the same inquiry-based approach.