Green Ribbon Schools
What’s New in Green Education? • U.S. Department of Education launched its Green Ribbon Schools, the first comprehensive federal policy for schools related to environment, health and education. • The award acknowledges the work of schools in reaching high levels of achievement in: – Environmental impact and energy efficiency; – Healthy environment; and – Environmental literacy.
Put Another Way 1. Schools’ and their occupants’ impact on the environment; 2. Schools’ environmental and behavioral impact on occupants; and 3. How schools teach students about the environment and sustainability to prepare them for citizenship and employment in the 21st century.
A Means To Use Existing Resources to Achieve Current National Goals… Economic health and stability • Much needed improvements to school facilities create new jobs and save schools money. • Prepare students to participate in the green economy • Strengthen the nation's energy security • Conserve precious natural resources.
…And School and Student goals Student Achievement • fostering health, wellness and productivity • providing a well-rounded education, • increasing STEM skills, content knowledge and engagement • ensuring students’ college and career preparedness
What Green Ribbon Is NOT • NOT an additional set of priorities for schools. • Connects schools with existing resources and standards that advance current goals. • High standards that advance current aims to cut costs, provide a well-rounded education, increase STEM skills and engagement, foster health and wellness and ensure students’ preparedness for the 21st century economy.
What Are Some of Those Existing Resources and Standards? ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY • DOE EnergySmart Schools • DOE and EPA ENERGY STAR for K-12 School Districts • DOE America’s Home Energy Education Challenge • DOE Purchasing Specifications for Energy Efficient Products • EPA Guidelines for Energy Management Overview • DOE State Energy Program • EPA WaterSenseDo Something • Consortium for School Networking Initiative Green Computing for K-12 Schools
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION • DOT Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety • Safe Routes to Schools • International Walk to School Month • Walking School Bus RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT • EPA WasteWise • EPA Reducing Risk From Hazardous Waste • CDC Hazardous Waste Self-Management Checklist • EPA Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools • Keep America Beautiful Recycle-Bowl
BUILDING DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE • Advanced Energy Design Guide for 50% energy savings in K-12 schools • USGBC Center for Green School Resources • Collaborative for High Performance Schools • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers Green Standard • Green Building Initiative Green Globes AIR QUALITY • EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools • EPA Assessing Outdoor Air Near Schools • EPA Clean School Bus USA • EPA Healthy Schools Environments Assessment Tool • EPA Managing Asthma in Schools • CDC Tools for Making Your School Asthma-Friendly
Contaminant Management EPA Buy Clean • EPA Integrated Pest Management for Schools • EPA Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign • EPA Radon Information • CDC Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use • EPA Managing Asbestos in Schools • EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting in Schools • EPA Proper Maintenance, Removal and Disposal of PCBContaining Lights • CDC Underground Storage Tank Self-Inspection Checklist • EPA Schools and Mercury • EPA Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
Nutrition and Fitness • The First Lady’s Let’s Move! • The President’s Challenge • USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge, Garden School Program, Agriculture In the Classroom and Farm to School Program. • EPA Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities Partnership for A Healthier America • Alliance for a Healthier Generation • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation • PreventObesity • Green Thumb Challenge • Healthy Schools Campaign, School Food and Fitness • National Healthy Schools Day
Teaching and Learning Energy • EPA Student's Guide to Global Climate Change • DOE EnergyKids • EPA Climate Change: What You Can Do At School • EPA Energy Star Join the Fight Against Climate Change • DOE H2 Educate • Green Energy Challenge • Project Earth STEM Content Knowledge and Thinking Skills • White House Educate to Innovate • DOE STEM Teacher Development
Environmental Education • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
ED Federal Resources for Educational Excellence, Environment NOAA Climate Services: Education NOAA B-WET EPA Environmental Education Grants EPA Teacher Resources and Lesson Plans EPA President’s Environmental Youth Awards Eco-Schools USA Nature Net Educational Resources US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development National Education for Sustainability K-12 Student Learning Standards Project Learning Tree’s Green Schools! Facing the Future's Curriculum and Lesson Finder Alliance for Climate Education Green Education Foundation Sustainability Education Clearinghouse National Resources Defense Council Green Squad Kids for Saving the Earth Program List
Connecting to Local Outdoors • National Park Service Education Resources • National Wildlife Federation How To Create Schoolyard Habitats • Fish and Wildlife Service Schoolyard Habitats • Hands on the Land • School Garden Wizard • Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators
And these are just some of the resources, standards, programs and grants!
Let’s Look at How and Why Green Ribbon Schools Came to Be • Public request to EPA, ED and White House • Concept launch with heads of EPA, ED and CEQ in April 2011, indicating the pilot year cohort would be named in spring 2012. • Summer developing award criteria and nomination infrastructure, consulting with associations, states, national and local NGOs, school communities, technical experts, the public, and numerous federal partners.
Which Are the Non Governmental Entities That Support This? • • • • • •
Campaign for Environmental Literacy U.S. Green Building Council Earth Day Network National Wildlife Federation National Education Association National Association of Elementary School Principals Foundation • Healthy Schools Campaign
• • • • • • • • • •
National Audubon Society Alliance to Save Energy Clean Economy Network Green Schools Initiative BlueGreen Alliance Project Learning Tree The Need Project Emerald Cities Collaborative No Child Left Inside Coalition National Environmental Education Foundation
• • • • • • • •
DoSomething.org Green Education Foundation Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships Council for Education Facilities Planners International Facing The Future Environmental Law Institute National Science Teachers Association National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
• • • • •
Grades of Green National Caucus of Environmental Legislators Educational Information and Resource Center Alliance for Climate Education National Association of Energy Service Companies • Educational Information and Resource Center • American Federation of Teachers And these are just some of the entities that support your efforts!
What Green Ribbon Schools Does Encourages state education authorities and school communities to implement: – Energy and resource conservation measures that provide opportunities for school-wide savings, job creation and reduced environmental impact; –Environmental and behavioral changes that promote health and productivity; and –Environmental education to ensure learning about key social, economic and ecological relationships, reinforce STEM and develop civic engagement skills.
How Green Ribbon Schools Works • Recognizes schools that meet a variety of existing standards, implementing or employing numerous complementary policies and resources. • A nation-wide recognition award, not a grant. • Incents change by communicating high standards and recognizing the most exemplary schools or individuals according to specified criteria.
Selecting Green Ribbon Schools • Schools must be nominated by their state chief education officer and cannot apply directly to ED. • Mechanism for private schools, BIE and DOD. • State education authorities evaluate schools based on 3 ‘Pillars’ • Compliance with federal, state and local civil rights, health, safety and environmental laws. • Based on their evaluation, state authorities send nominees to ED.
Selection Continued • Each state ≤ 4 schools. • ≥ 1 school with at least 40 percent of their students from a disadvantaged background. • 1 possible private school nomination. • ED will select approximately 50 award winners in this pilot year.
Timeframe for Pilot Timeframe In the few weeks since the pilot year announcement, 20 states have communicated to ED plans to nominate schools. ED encourages chief officers to use the following dates to guide their state nomination process: By November 22nd: Notify ED of participation By March 22nd: Submit nominees to ED
Urgency to Begin
ED will call for submissions in early spring; however, practically speaking, the window of opportunity for adequate time to schools applying and chiefs selecting nominees will close shortly.
How Can I Help? • Because state authorities’ participation in the Green Ribbon Schools recognition award is voluntary, a state’s decision as to whether to participate in the pilot year depends on hearing from interested school communities. • Green Ribbon Schools recognition award is not yet a certainty in every state, but can become a reality with schools’ help in asking that their state participate in nominating schools to ED.
Who Do I Contact to Participate! Contact Your State Education Chief: http://www.ccsso.org/Who_We_Are/Meet_the _Chiefs.html
Additional Information Website http://www2.ed.gov/programs/greenribbon-schools. Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EDGreenRibbonSc hools. Email [email protected].
Put Another Way 1. Schools’ and their occupants’ impact on the environment; 2. Schools’ environmental and behavioral impact on occupants; and 3. How schools teach students about the environment and sustainability to prepare them for citizenship and employment in the 21st century.
A Means To Use Existing Resources to Achieve Current National Goals… Economic health and stability • Much needed improvements to school facilities create new jobs and save schools money. • Prepare students to participate in the green economy • Strengthen the nation's energy security • Conserve precious natural resources.
…And School and Student goals Student Achievement • fostering health, wellness and productivity • providing a well-rounded education, • increasing STEM skills, content knowledge and engagement • ensuring students’ college and career preparedness
What Green Ribbon Is NOT • NOT an additional set of priorities for schools. • Connects schools with existing resources and standards that advance current goals. • High standards that advance current aims to cut costs, provide a well-rounded education, increase STEM skills and engagement, foster health and wellness and ensure students’ preparedness for the 21st century economy.
What Are Some of Those Existing Resources and Standards? ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY • DOE EnergySmart Schools • DOE and EPA ENERGY STAR for K-12 School Districts • DOE America’s Home Energy Education Challenge • DOE Purchasing Specifications for Energy Efficient Products • EPA Guidelines for Energy Management Overview • DOE State Energy Program • EPA WaterSenseDo Something • Consortium for School Networking Initiative Green Computing for K-12 Schools
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION • DOT Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety • Safe Routes to Schools • International Walk to School Month • Walking School Bus RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT • EPA WasteWise • EPA Reducing Risk From Hazardous Waste • CDC Hazardous Waste Self-Management Checklist • EPA Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools • Keep America Beautiful Recycle-Bowl
BUILDING DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE • Advanced Energy Design Guide for 50% energy savings in K-12 schools • USGBC Center for Green School Resources • Collaborative for High Performance Schools • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers Green Standard • Green Building Initiative Green Globes AIR QUALITY • EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools • EPA Assessing Outdoor Air Near Schools • EPA Clean School Bus USA • EPA Healthy Schools Environments Assessment Tool • EPA Managing Asthma in Schools • CDC Tools for Making Your School Asthma-Friendly
Contaminant Management EPA Buy Clean • EPA Integrated Pest Management for Schools • EPA Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign • EPA Radon Information • CDC Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use • EPA Managing Asbestos in Schools • EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting in Schools • EPA Proper Maintenance, Removal and Disposal of PCBContaining Lights • CDC Underground Storage Tank Self-Inspection Checklist • EPA Schools and Mercury • EPA Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
Nutrition and Fitness • The First Lady’s Let’s Move! • The President’s Challenge • USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge, Garden School Program, Agriculture In the Classroom and Farm to School Program. • EPA Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities Partnership for A Healthier America • Alliance for a Healthier Generation • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation • PreventObesity • Green Thumb Challenge • Healthy Schools Campaign, School Food and Fitness • National Healthy Schools Day
Teaching and Learning Energy • EPA Student's Guide to Global Climate Change • DOE EnergyKids • EPA Climate Change: What You Can Do At School • EPA Energy Star Join the Fight Against Climate Change • DOE H2 Educate • Green Energy Challenge • Project Earth STEM Content Knowledge and Thinking Skills • White House Educate to Innovate • DOE STEM Teacher Development
Environmental Education • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
ED Federal Resources for Educational Excellence, Environment NOAA Climate Services: Education NOAA B-WET EPA Environmental Education Grants EPA Teacher Resources and Lesson Plans EPA President’s Environmental Youth Awards Eco-Schools USA Nature Net Educational Resources US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development National Education for Sustainability K-12 Student Learning Standards Project Learning Tree’s Green Schools! Facing the Future's Curriculum and Lesson Finder Alliance for Climate Education Green Education Foundation Sustainability Education Clearinghouse National Resources Defense Council Green Squad Kids for Saving the Earth Program List
Connecting to Local Outdoors • National Park Service Education Resources • National Wildlife Federation How To Create Schoolyard Habitats • Fish and Wildlife Service Schoolyard Habitats • Hands on the Land • School Garden Wizard • Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators
And these are just some of the resources, standards, programs and grants!
Let’s Look at How and Why Green Ribbon Schools Came to Be • Public request to EPA, ED and White House • Concept launch with heads of EPA, ED and CEQ in April 2011, indicating the pilot year cohort would be named in spring 2012. • Summer developing award criteria and nomination infrastructure, consulting with associations, states, national and local NGOs, school communities, technical experts, the public, and numerous federal partners.
Which Are the Non Governmental Entities That Support This? • • • • • •
Campaign for Environmental Literacy U.S. Green Building Council Earth Day Network National Wildlife Federation National Education Association National Association of Elementary School Principals Foundation • Healthy Schools Campaign
• • • • • • • • • •
National Audubon Society Alliance to Save Energy Clean Economy Network Green Schools Initiative BlueGreen Alliance Project Learning Tree The Need Project Emerald Cities Collaborative No Child Left Inside Coalition National Environmental Education Foundation
• • • • • • • •
DoSomething.org Green Education Foundation Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships Council for Education Facilities Planners International Facing The Future Environmental Law Institute National Science Teachers Association National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
• • • • •
Grades of Green National Caucus of Environmental Legislators Educational Information and Resource Center Alliance for Climate Education National Association of Energy Service Companies • Educational Information and Resource Center • American Federation of Teachers And these are just some of the entities that support your efforts!
What Green Ribbon Schools Does Encourages state education authorities and school communities to implement: – Energy and resource conservation measures that provide opportunities for school-wide savings, job creation and reduced environmental impact; –Environmental and behavioral changes that promote health and productivity; and –Environmental education to ensure learning about key social, economic and ecological relationships, reinforce STEM and develop civic engagement skills.
How Green Ribbon Schools Works • Recognizes schools that meet a variety of existing standards, implementing or employing numerous complementary policies and resources. • A nation-wide recognition award, not a grant. • Incents change by communicating high standards and recognizing the most exemplary schools or individuals according to specified criteria.
Selecting Green Ribbon Schools • Schools must be nominated by their state chief education officer and cannot apply directly to ED. • Mechanism for private schools, BIE and DOD. • State education authorities evaluate schools based on 3 ‘Pillars’ • Compliance with federal, state and local civil rights, health, safety and environmental laws. • Based on their evaluation, state authorities send nominees to ED.
Selection Continued • Each state ≤ 4 schools. • ≥ 1 school with at least 40 percent of their students from a disadvantaged background. • 1 possible private school nomination. • ED will select approximately 50 award winners in this pilot year.
Timeframe for Pilot Timeframe In the few weeks since the pilot year announcement, 20 states have communicated to ED plans to nominate schools. ED encourages chief officers to use the following dates to guide their state nomination process: By November 22nd: Notify ED of participation By March 22nd: Submit nominees to ED
Urgency to Begin
ED will call for submissions in early spring; however, practically speaking, the window of opportunity for adequate time to schools applying and chiefs selecting nominees will close shortly.
How Can I Help? • Because state authorities’ participation in the Green Ribbon Schools recognition award is voluntary, a state’s decision as to whether to participate in the pilot year depends on hearing from interested school communities. • Green Ribbon Schools recognition award is not yet a certainty in every state, but can become a reality with schools’ help in asking that their state participate in nominating schools to ED.
Who Do I Contact to Participate! Contact Your State Education Chief: http://www.ccsso.org/Who_We_Are/Meet_the _Chiefs.html
Additional Information Website http://www2.ed.gov/programs/greenribbon-schools. Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EDGreenRibbonSc hools. Email [email protected].
