Encourage your state department of education to participate in Green Ribbon Schools!

The U.S. Department of Education (U.S. ED), with the assistance from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), recently launched Green Ribbon Schools. This is the first comprehensive and coordinated federal award program that encompasses three institutional roles of schools related to environmental impact and energy efficiency, healthy environments, and environmental literacy.

How to Bring Green Ribbon Schools to Your State: Schools must be nominated by their state departments of education. Contact your state department of education if you would like to inquire about the application process in your state or to confirm whether your state plans to nominate schools. If a state does not nominate schools, U.S. ED cannot select any Green Ribbon Schools in that state. Green Ribbon Schools has asked state departments of education to notify U.S. ED by November 22, 2011, of their plans to participate by nominating schools. For more information, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools.

This recognition award aims to prompt state education authorities and school communities to take action on the following:

· Energy and resource conservation measures that provide opportunities for cost savings and job creation.

· Environmental and behavioral changes to promote health and productivity among students, staff and other occupants.

· The use of environmental and sustainability education to support students’ preparedness for some of the nation’s fastest growing employment sectors.

EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools guidance is prominently featured as one of the recommended resources that schools can use to help meet the award criteria. Information on EPA’s guidance for creating healthy school indoor environments can be found on the IAQ Tools for Schools website.