The Academic Year, full-time, Sea Lab Program is the first of its kind in Massachusetts and is a forerunner in educational practices, a school focused on introducing university and high school level science concepts and related marine activities to pre-university students. The Program provides a balanced educational arena in which students learn academic concepts as well as social values.  Science literacy is the focus of students learning strategies and the school’s major goal is to produce life long learners who are contributors to the environment.

The academic year curriculum is designed to increase the current MCAS scores of New Bedford's fifth graders and provide these students with the opportunity to participate in hands-on, standard based, Earth and Space Science, Life Science, Physical Science and Technology laboratory experiences.

The first Academic Year Sea Lab Program commenced in October 2001. Included in the full year Program's instruction component were New Bedford Public Schools grade five students, grade one students, grade two students, and CHART middle school students. Additionally, students from the New Bedford Public Schools Advanced Learning Program, grades four through six matriculated through the Marine Biology and Earth Science modules prepared for the academic year program.

During the 2004 - 2005 Academic Year, the Advanced Learning students, grades four through six, participated in the international GLOBE Program. Meteorological and water analysis specimens and data were collected and programmed onto the GLOBE Internet site by AL students. The Boston College Educational Seismology Program was added to the Sea Lab curricula during the summer of 2005.  Summer Sea Lab students as well as academic year students, including the Advanced Learning Grades 4 and 5; participate in this on-going Earth Science unit taught by Boston College and Weston Observatory geologists and geophysicists.  There is AS-1 Seismograph located at the Sea Lab site and earthquakes worldwide are recorded through this seismograph in real time.

The construction of the MIT “Sea Perch”, an underwater robotic, was introduced to summer Sea Lab students and Advanced Learning students during the spring and summer of 2006 and 2007.  Collaborating with Geodesy students from the New Bedford Greater Regional Vocational Technical High School, students attending Sea Lab worked with their “Voke buddy” to build a fleet of  ROV’s.  These remote operated vehicles were tested for their maneuverability, buoyancy and operational techniques, in area pools.

An additional aspect of the academic year program is professional development for New Bedford Public Schools teachers. Over 125 teachers participated in marine science instruction from October 2001 through June 2002 and approximately 400 teachers participated in professional development lectures, seminars, and workshops from October 2002 through June 2005, with a total of 700 teachers participating in professional development opportunities from August 2005 through June 2007.  Sea Lab teachers also provide professional development opportunities focused on Earth Science, Physical Science, Life Science and Technology to area educators and community groups such as the EPA, Oceans Academy, and the Massachusetts Marine Educators.

Sea Lab units of study experienced during the Academic Year Program are Earth Sciences and Technology, with a marine studies component, and Life Sciences focusing on Marine Biology, with microscopy and dissection emphasis. Field studies to East Beach, New Bedford, Massachusetts, are conducted with the intent of gathering marine and geological specimens. This hands-on, marine oriented curriculum is standards based and aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.  Moreover, it is designed to be multidisciplinary and inquiry based. Sea Lab students also participate in on-going research involving indigenous flora and fauna and the impact of foreign plant species to the local environment.