Why ED-Green Ribbon Schools?

2. Why ED-Green Ribbon Schools? • History • Authorities and Programs • ED as connector & communicator of best practices and resources

3. Let’s Look at How and Why ED-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 2011 developing award criteria and nomination infrastructure, consulting with associations, states, national and local NGOs, school communities, technical experts, the public, and numerous federal partners.

4. Supporting Organizations (State) Arkansas Environmental Education Association California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia Environmental Education Association of Alabama Environmental Education Association of New Mexico Environmental Education Association of Oregon Environmental Education Association of Washington Environment Education Connections of South Dakota Environmental Education Council of Ohio Environmental Educators of North Carolina Hawaii Environmental Education Alliance Idaho Environmental Education Association Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education Kansas Green Schools Program Kentucky Association for Environmental Education Kentucky Environmental Education Council Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Maryland Green Schools Minnesota Association for Environmental Education Missouri Environmental Education Association Nebraska Association for Conservation and Environmental Education New York State Outdoor Education Association Oregon Green Schools Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators Rhode Island Environmental Education Association South Carolina Green Steps Schools Tennessee Environmental Education Association Tennessee Environmental Literacy Working Group Texas Green Ribbon Schools Utah Society for Environmental Education Vermont Sweep: State-Wide Environmental Education Programs Washington Green Schools West Virginia Green Schools West Virginia Environmental Education Association Wisconsin Green & Healthy Schools Campaign Steering Committee Campaign for Environmental Literacy Earth Day Network National Wildlife Federation U.S. Green Building Council Supporting Organizations (National) Alliance for Climate Education Alliance to Save Energy American Architectural Foundation American Federation of Teachers American Montessori Society Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education BlueGreen Alliance Committee on Architecture for Education Council of Educational Facility Planners International Council of Environmental Deans and Directors Earth Force Green Charter Schools Network Green Community Schools Green Fox Schools Green Schools Alliance Green Schools Initiative Green Schools Network GREENGUARD Environmental Institute Healthy Schools Campaign Hispanic Access Foundation National Association of Elementary School Principals National Association of Independent Schools National Audubon Society National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities National Council for Science and the Environment National Education Association National Energy Education Development Project National Green Schools Coalition National Green Schools Network National School Boards Association National Science Teachers Association North American Association for Environmental Education Ocean Foundation Project Learning Tree U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development Zerofootprint Challenge for Schools

5. How ED-Green Ribbon Schools Works • Honors schools, school districts and institutions of higher education (IHEs) • Tool to encourage new collaborations among state education authorities, both PK-12 and postsecondary, and various inter-agency and inter-sector partners. • Communicates best practices and resources. • Recognition; not a grant.

6. Consensus-Based Pillars • Reducing environmental impact and costs; • Improving health and wellness; and • Providing effective environmental education.

8. A Means To Use Existing Resources to Achieve Current National Goals… Economic health and stability • Improvements to school facilities create jobs. • Conservation measures save schools money. • Preparation for the green economy. • Strengthen the nation's energy security. • Conserve critical natural resources.

9. …And Educators’ goals Student Achievement • fostering health, wellness and achievement • providing a well-rounded education • increasing STEM skills, knowledge and engagement • ensuring students’ college and career preparedness • civic skills and values

10. …And Postsecondary Aims • Reduced college costs • Increased completion rates • Green career connections • Increased civic skills

11. What ED-Green Ribbon Schools is Not • NOT a new rating system. • NOT tied to any one program or standard; • Encourages schools, districts and postsecondary institutions to use pre-existing programs and standards in three Pillars. • Promote ALL of the many federal and other sector resources, programs, and standards in the area of the three Pillars.

12. Selecting Nominees in States • Interested schools, districts and IHE’s must be nominated by their state education authorities and cannot apply directly to ED. • Each authority is invited to nominate up to five schools or school districts and a single IHE that they assess to be the highest performing in their jurisdiction, based on the authorities’ evaluation of applicants’ achievement in all Pillars and every Element.

13. School and District Nominees • Schools must be nominated by their state education authorities. • Mechanism for private, BIE and DOD schools. • 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 USED. • Encourages underserved nominees.

14. Postsecondary Nominees • IHEs must be nominated by their state education authorities and cannot apply directly to ED. • State Higher Education Executive Officers, Governors and Associations form state nomination committee. • Committees evaluate schools based on 3 Pillars • Encouraged to take into account diversity. • Based on their evaluation, state authorities send nominees to USED.

15. States’ Applications • No required federal application. • Each state evaluates its candidates as it wishes and submits documentation showing how nominees are high performing in every Pillar and Element. • This can be a question-by-question format or a narrative summarizing accomplishments in each Pillar. • Sample application templates provided to state authorities for their use and adaptation.

16. Communicating Best Practices and Resources • Green Strides with Webinars • Highlights Report • Newsletter and Social Media • Ceremony and Announcement • Best Practices Tour

17. Results • 204 schools; 23 districts • 30+ participating states • New state collaborations • New federal collaborations • More resources into schools

18. Timeframe for Pilot The ED-GRS Calendar • Spring: ED provides refreshed criteria • Summer:State authorities encouraged to indicate their intent to submit nominees to USED. • Sept: States begin selection processes • Winter:State application deadlines (vary by state) • February 1:States submit nominees to ED. • April 22: USED announces honorees. • July:USED hosts national recognition award ceremony. 

19. Additional Information Websiteed.gov/green-ribbon-schoolsand ed.gov/green-strides Facebook EDGreenRibbonSchools Twitter EDGreenRibbon Emailgreen.ribbon.schools@ed.gov.