How U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Came to Be

• Public request from 80 NGOs• Concept launch and pilot year • Summer 2011 award criteria

development with partners

Campaign Steering CommitteeCampaign for Environmental LiteracyEarth Day NetworkNational Wildlife FederationU.S. Green Building Council

Supporting Organizations (National)Alliance for Climate Education Alliance to Save Energy American Architectural FoundationAmerican Federation of TeachersAmerican Montessori SocietyAssociation for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher

Education BlueGreen AllianceCommittee on Architecture for EducationCouncil of Educational Facility Planners International Council of Environmental Deans and DirectorsEarth ForceGreen Charter Schools NetworkGreen Community SchoolsGreen Fox SchoolsGreen Schools AllianceGreen Schools InitiativeGreen Schools NetworkGREENGUARD Environmental InstituteHealthy Schools CampaignHispanic Access FoundationNational Association of Elementary School PrincipalsNational Association of Independent SchoolsNational Audubon SocietyNational Clearinghouse for Educational FacilitiesNational Council for Science and the EnvironmentNational Education AssociationNational Energy Education Development ProjectNational Green Schools CoalitionNational Green Schools NetworkNational School Boards AssociationNational Science Teachers AssociationNorth American Association for Environmental EducationOcean FoundationProject Learning TreeU.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable DevelopmentZerofootprint Challenge for Schools

Supporting Organizations (State)Arkansas Environmental Education AssociationCalifornia Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Environmental Education Alliance of GeorgiaEnvironmental Education Association of AlabamaEnvironmental Education Association of New MexicoEnvironmental Education Association of OregonEnvironmental Education Association of WashingtonEnvironment Education Connections of South DakotaEnvironmental Education Council of OhioEnvironmental Educators of North CarolinaHawaii Environmental Education AllianceIdaho Environmental Education AssociationKansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education Kansas Green Schools ProgramKentucky Association for Environmental EducationKentucky Environmental Education Council Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor EducationMaryland Green SchoolsMinnesota Association for Environmental EducationMissouri Environmental Education AssociationNebraska Association for Conservation and Environmental EducationNew York State Outdoor Education AssociationOregon Green SchoolsPennsylvania Association of Environmental EducatorsRhode Island Environmental Education AssociationSouth Carolina Green Steps SchoolsTennessee Environmental Education AssociationTennessee Environmental Literacy Working Group Texas Green Ribbon Schools Utah Society for Environmental Education Vermont Sweep: State-Wide Environmental Education ProgramsWashington Green SchoolsWest Virginia Green SchoolsWest Virginia Environmental Education Association Wisconsin Green & Healthy Schools

How ED-Green Ribbon Schools Works

• Federal outreach & engagement tool structured as a recognition award• Honors schools, districts, &

postsecondary institutions • Communicates resources & practices• Connects potential partners

What ED-Green Ribbon Schools is Not

•NOT a certification, tracking, or rating system•NOT a grant program

A Note on Our Name

• U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS)

• "Green Ribbon Schools" without the "U.S. Department of Education" is not ED's award, but instead is a separate program overseen by another organization.

• Honorees state the title with year in which won; eligible only 1x

• Reducing environmental impact and costs; • Improving health and wellness;

and • Providing effective environmental

& sustainability education.

Consensus-Based Pillars

Using Existing Resources to Achieve Broad Aims…

Economic health and stability• Creating jobs with improvements to school

facilities.• Saving schools money with conservation

measures. • Preparing students for the green economy.• Strengthening the nation's energy security. • Conserving critical natural resources.

…And Educators’ goals

Student Achievement• health, wellness, and achievement• well-rounded education• STEM knowledge and engagement• college and career preparedness • civic skills and values

…And Postsecondary Aims

• Reduced college costs• STEM engagement• Green career connections• Civic skills and values

Selecting Nominees in States

• Interested schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions MUST be nominated by their state education authorities

• Up to five schools or school districts and a single postsecondary institution

• Progressing in every Pillar

School and District Nominees

• State education authorities evaluate applicants based on 3 Pillars• Encourages underserved

nominees• Early learning eligible in this

category

Postsecondary Nominees

• State Higher Education Executive Officers evaluate based on 3 Pillars• Encouraged to take into account

diversity • One postsecondary nominee per

state

States’ Applications

• No required federal application.• Each state evaluates its

candidates as it wishes.• Documents how nominees are

progressing in every Pillar.

• Highlights Report• Newsletter • Social Media• Green Strides Tour• Greenstrides.org resources &

webinars

Communicating Innovative Practices and Resources

19 states so far: AL, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA,KY, WV, DC, MA, MD, MN, NJ, NY, OR, PA,RI, WA, WI

Green Strides Tour

The NewThe Green Strides Site

Results

• 340 schools; 56 districts; 34 IHEs• 30+ participating states• New collaborations•More resources into schools

Timeframe for Pilot Timeframe for Pilot

• Summer: States publish applications• Early winter: State application

deadlines• Late winter: States submit nominees• Spring: ED announces honorees • Summer: ED hosts award ceremony

The General ED-GRS Calendar

Additional Information

Website ed.gov/green-ribbon-schools & www.greenstrides.org Facebook EDGreenRibbonSchools

Twitter EDGreenRibbon

Email ed.green.ribbon.schools@ed.gov