**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE CONCEPT OF DEEPER LEARNING IS A TRANSFER PROCESS WHERE STUDENTS APPLY THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE TO NEW CONTEXTS ANDSITUATIONS. DEEPER LEARNING ECHOES THE NEW SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS BY REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF DEEP UNDERSTANDING OFACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCIES FOR STUDENTS TO BECOME COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY. THE GOAL OF THISPROJECT IS TO DEVELOP ADEEPER LEARNING INSTITUTE THAT WILL BRING 20HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE TEACHERS TOGETHER IN A FOCUSEDCOMMUNITY OF PRACTICE TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN THE SELECTED DEEPER LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL AND ASSESSMENT PRACTICES TO (1) IMPROVESTUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND DEEPER LEARNING OUTCOMES, (2) PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY WITHDEEPER 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) THEDEEPER LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, AND (3) THE PORTFOLIOS TO EVALUATE STUDENT OUTCOMES. THIS HYBRIDPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE AN IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE PARTICIPATING TEACHERS IN BOTH CONTENTKNOWLEDGE AND DEEPER LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL AND ASSESSMENT PRACTICES. IN ADDITION, THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS REQUIRED BY AFRI EWDPROJECTS SUCH AS CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, ETC. ARE WELL ALIGNED WITH THE COMPETENCIESDEVELOPED THROUGH DEEPER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED IN CLASSROOMS IMPLEMENTING DEEPER LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL ANDASSESSMENT PRACTICES. THIS DEEPER LEARNING INSTITUTE AIMS TO RECRUIT 20TEACHERS IN VIRGINIAAND WILL INDIRECTLY IMPACTAPPROXIMATELY 400 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.