Last Opportunity to
Apply to Your State for 2015 ED-GRS
In the News
Participating
states have posted applications for schools, districts and postsecondary
institutions with deadlines to submit to them in the winter. State
authorities’ school, district, and postsecondary nominations are due to ED
by February 1, 2015, so most state deadlines are in December or January.
Interested PK-12 schools and districts should contact their state education agencies
about the school and district award applications.
This year, in
addition to a total of five school and district nominees, each state may
nominate one postsecondary institution for exemplary achievement in all
three Pillars. Interested
colleges and universities should contact their state higher education
authorities for information on how to apply.
Hearing from
interested schools, districts, colleges, and universities may be helpful to
P-12 and postsecondary state authorities considering 2014-2015
participation. State education authorities can contact U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
for more information. They can find updated criteria and other
state implementation guidance on our
website.
Have doubts about
ED-GRS? Some Frequently Asked Questions on all three award categories are
available here. >>>>
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The World
Conference on Education for Sustainable Development was held in
Aïchi-Nagoya, Japan earlier this month. This was the final
convening for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
The Decade has spurred hundreds of thousands of people to reorient
education globally towards a central goal: to learn to live and work
sustainably. Read the conference declaration
and final report.
View a brief video on global trends in
Education for Sustainable Development. Hear ideas on living
sustainably from children. >>>>
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Lowell
Elementary students plant a Rainbow Garden in Long Beach, CA
Upcoming Events
The Children’s
Environmental Health Network, a non-profit whose mission is to protect
children from environmental health hazards and promote a healthier
environment, will convene for the organization’s upcoming research
conference February 4-6, 2015 in Austin, Texas. The theme for the
conference is “Children: Food and Environment” and the focus is on how the
interaction between food and environmental factors affect children’s
health. >>>>
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The annual Green Schools National
Conference, the only national conference bringing together
experts and stakeholders to influence sustainability in K-12 schools and
districts, is designed to allow attendees to learn about creative
strategies for success and to take home real-life tools that can transform
schools. Early bird registration
continues until December 15. >>>>
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High
Meadows School students observe aquatic communities at the campus pond in
Roswell, GA
Grants, Contests and
Awards
The Director’s
Award recognizes state education authorities’ exemplary efforts to
administer U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
(ED-GRS). Annually, the ED-GRS Director’s Award goes to the state
education official who does the most to advance sustainable education in
their state, by such means as: Running a robust nomination process; connecting
more schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions to sustainability
resources; amplifying the stories of their applicants and honorees; helping
schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions connect to and learn
from one another; partnering with a variety of state and non- and
for-profit private sector entities; and exhibiting a dedication to
exceptional school facilities, health, and environmental education through
activities outside of the administration of the ED-GRS award. If you wish
to nominate a state education official, please send your nomination and
justification to ed.green.ribbon.schools@ed.gov
by March 1st. Any state education official who is involved in
implementing the ED-GRS award and who has not already won the Director’s
Award is eligible for nomination. Read about the work of past
Director’s Award recipients here. >>>>
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EPA is accepting
applications for the 2015 National Environmental
Leadership Award in Asthma Management. This award is the
nation’s highest honor for programs delivering excellent environmental
asthma management as part of their comprehensive asthma care services.
Eligible applicants include health plans, healthcare providers,
or community-based programs
with work that: 1) Addresses environmental triggers as part of a
comprehensive asthma program; 2) Promotes healthy homes, schools and
workplaces to improve the lives of people with asthma; 3) Fosters
high-performing collaborations and partnerships. >>>>
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Operation
AmeriCorps is asking tribal and local leaders to identify a high-priority local
challenge that AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps NCCC and/or
AmeriCorps VISTA members can address in a relatively short period of time
(no more than two years). The grant competition is open to tribal and local
governments, including counties, cities, towns, and school districts; and
state service commissions. The first priority focuses on specific
postsecondary outcomes for students. The second priority is more
flexible and allows localities to identify their most pressing challenge.
The organization is looking for proposals that are place-based, coordinated
with existing community organizations, and with transformational outcomes.
>>>>
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Nominations for
the 2015 Presidential Awards for
Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are now
open. Principals, teachers, students, parents, and the public may
nominate exceptional math or science teachers who are currently teaching
grades 7-12. Teachers may also self-nominate. The President
bestows up to 108 awards each year. Since the program’s inception in
1983, over 4,300 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in
the classroom and to their profession. Nominations close on April 1, 2015. >>>>
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The President’s
Environmental Youth Awards program promotes awareness of our nation's
natural resources and encourages positive community involvement. The
program includes two components: a regional certificate of special
recognition and a national award competition. All qualified applicants each
year receive a certificate of recognition from their EPA regional office.
In addition, one outstanding project from each region is selected to
receive a national award plaque. Projects are developed by young
individuals, school classes (K-12), summer camps, and youth organizations
to promote environmental stewardship. >>>>
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Students at
St. Thomas Aquinas School help to pull invasive garlic mustard at a local
park in Indianapolis, IN.
Resources
EPA released Energy Savings Plus Health:
Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades. The
Guidelines provide school districts with tools to integrate indoor air
quality protections into school energy efficiency retrofits and other
building upgrade projects, thus helping schools implement important energy
efficiency upgrades without compromising occupant health. By
following the recommendations outlined, school districts will reap the
benefits of improved student and staff health and reduced operational
costs. >>>>
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Secretary Duncan
recently announced guidance to ensure that all students have equal access
to educational resources and safe school facilities so that they have an
equal opportunity to succeed. The guidance, issued by the Office for Civil
Rights, provides detailed and concrete information to educators on the
standards set in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The guidance is
one part of President Obama’s larger equity agenda, including the recently
announced Excellent Educators for All
initiative, and takes into account the ongoing efforts of states, school
districts and schools to improve equity. >>>>
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In recognition of
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, the Office for Civil Rights
(OCR) released new anti-bullying guidance
in the form of a letter to educators. New guidance was released to remind
public schools that they have a responsibility under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to
prevent bullying and protect students, particularly students with
disabilities. The new guidance builds upon the anti-bullying guidance
released by the Department in 2013, 2010, and 2000. The most recent release
makes it clear that the law bars any form of discrimination based on
disability in all programs or activities that receive federal financial
assistance. >>>>
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This site has two
toolkits: one for Green Cleaning and
one for a selected range of other Healthy Products.
The kits offer free posters, webinars, tip sheets, checklists, and links to
find products. Take a moment to review and share it with your schools and
communities. For a review of the Healthy Products toolkit, see the
article "Sustainable Purchasing
for Schools" from the most recent issue of School
Planning & Management magazine. >>>>
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ED’s Green Strides Webinar
Series continues with the tools ALL schools can use to reduce
costs; improve health; and teach effective environmental education. Find
sessions for educators, facilities managers, and advocates weekly.
Jesuit High
School students participate in a trash audit during AP Environmental Science
in Portland, OR.
Connect with Green
Strides on the Web
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