lˈaɪk ˈɔːl ˌɛnˌɛsˈɛffˈʌndᵻd sˈɛntɚz fɔːɹ lˈɜːnɪŋ ænd tˈiːtʃɪŋ, sˈɪlz ɐdɹˈɛsᵻz "pɹˈɛsɪŋ pɹˈɑːbləmz kənfɹˈʌntɪŋ kˈeɪ twˈɛlv sˈaɪəns ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən" baɪ fˈoʊkəsɪŋ ˌɔn sˌʌm kˈiː kəmpˈoʊnənt ʌvðə nˈæʃənəl sˈaɪəns ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən ˈɪnfɹəstɹˌʌktʃɚ.
Like all NSF-funded Centers for Learning and Teaching, CILS addresses "pressing problems confronting K-12 science education" by focusing on some key component of the national science education infrastructure.