Resources
(Re)Designing for Adolescent Thriving
Using developmental science to reimagine secondary schools and systems in California
This report sets out what developmental science now says about adolescence, what it implies for the design of classrooms and systems, and what it takes for that design to endure.
The aim: We hope for young people who know who they are, what they value, and how they want to show up in their relationships, their communities, and their futures.
USC CANDLE Summer 2026 Design Sprint
The USC CANDLE Summer 2026 Design Sprint brought together over 200 educators from teacher teams around the country to translate adolescent neuroscience into classroom practice. Each educator designed a classroom-specific innovation while collaborating with their team and other education and scientific experts on shared challenges.
Resources from the Design Sprint
Professional Learning
Workshops and Resources
We recognize that teaching, like learning, is a social, emotional, and cultural enterprise and teachers require support, programming, and resources that can help them meet the challenges of the current educational climate.
We offer standalone and ongoing science-informed professional learning programming focused on educator wellness, as well as support to help educators and leaders create opportunities for transcendent thinking in their work. Sessions enrich educators’ understanding of the value of transcendent thinking and its long-term benefits.
View the Professional Learning Services PDF
Educator Professional Services
For secondary educators and teaching teams
Teachers engage deeply in the research on adolescent development, then (re)design and implement a lesson, unit, or project based on what they have learned about the science.
Design Introduction: Half or full day experience
- Learn the science of adolescent development and the Transcendent Thinking framework
- Analyze an upcoming lesson, unit, or project for where it already invites transcendent thinking, and where it could be strengthened
- Plan for one developmentally-oriented improvement to try out
Educators leave with a shared understanding of adolescent development, along with concrete ideas and resources to try in their classroom.
Design Workshop: Multiple sessions, across a semester
- Learn the science of adolescent development and the Transcendent Thinking framework
- (Re)design one aspect of an upcoming lesson, unit, or project to promote transcendent thinking, then try it out between sessions
- Analyze teacher and student work for evidence of transcendent thinking to see what’s working
Educators leave with a shared understanding of adolescent development, redesigned learning plan, and a way to check how it is landing with students.
Design Residency: Multiple sessions, across a school year
- Learn the science of adolescent development and the Transcendent Thinking framework
- Engage in repeated cycles of (re)design: prototyping, teaching, examining evidence, and shared learning with CANDLE support throughout
Educators leave with a team fluent in designing for transcendent thinking and a year of evidence about its impact on students.
Multi-year Offering: Any pathway can begin as a pilot with one team and expand across teams and schools in later years, with CANDLE support along the way.
Leadership Consulting
For school and district leaders
Teachers can only sustain this work when leaders create supportive space for it. This partnership offering helps leaders shape the structures, priorities, and culture that allow transcendent thinking to take root. Offered alongside any design pathway.
- Ongoing thought partnership as you guide implementation with teachers, work through what gets in the way, and keep the vision in view.
- Targeted guidance on the decisions in front of you, from scheduling and curriculum adoption to how you talk about learning with families.
For more information or to get started, contact Gretchen Livesey at Livesey@usc.edu