This session provides an overview of our work in the development of a free, accessible, data-focused virtual lab program through synergistic collaborations with university faculty as part of the broader impacts of grants they have submitted. Teaching meaningful, hands-on, data-driven laboratory experiences in middle and high school science classrooms is fundamentally important for students to build confidence in their understanding of science concepts. However, there are many obstacles teachers encounter that can prevent them from being able to offer hands-on lab experiences: access to necessary equipment and lab supplies, lack of space, student absenteeism, etc. Join us for a discussion on best practices in the development of virtual lab experiences that have been found to be most useful to middle and high school teachers.