THE CONCEPT OF DEEPER LEARNING IS A "TRANSFER" PROCESS WHERE STUDENTS APPLY THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE TO NEW CONTEXTS AND SITUATIONS. DEEPER LEARNING ECHOES THE NEW SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS BY REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCIES FOR STUDENTS TO BECOME COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A 2-YEAR DEEPER LEARNING INSTITUTE THAT WILL BRING 50 HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE TEACHERS TOGETHER IN A FOCUSED COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN THE SELECTED DEEPER LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL AND ASSESSMENT PRACTICES TO (1) IMPROVE STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND DEEPER LEARNING OUTCOMES, (2) PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME COLLEGE AND CAREER READY WITH DEEPER LEARNING COMPETENCIES, AND (3) ENHANCE TEACHERS' BELIEFS IN STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACHES AND SELF-EFFICACY.THIS DEEPER LEARNING INSTITUTE CONSISTS OF TRAINING IN (1) THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE IN AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY, (2) THE DEEPER LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, AND (3) THE PORTFOLIOS TO EVALUATE STUDENT OUTCOMES. THIS HYBRID PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE AN IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE PARTICIPATING TEACHERS IN BOTH CONTENT KNOWLEDGE AND DEEPER LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL AND ASSESSMENT PRACTICES. IN ADDITION, THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS REQUIRED BY AFRI EWD PROJECTS SUCH AS CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, ETC. ARE WELL ALIGNED WITH THE COMPETENCIES DEVELOPED THROUGH DEEPER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED IN CLASSROOMS IMPLEMENTING DEEPER LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL AND ASSESSMENT PRACTICES. THIS DEEPER LEARNING INSTITUTE AIMS TO RECRUIT 50 TEACHERS IN TENNESSEE AND WILL INDIRECTLY IMPACT APPROXIMATELY 2,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND DIRECTLY IMPACT 5 PRE-SERVICE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.