Presenting the First U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS)

Secretary Duncan Announces 2012 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

 

Presenting the First U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS)

Today I had the honor to name 78 schools as the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.  When we set out a year ago to recognize comprehensive achievement in the areas of environmental impact, health and education, we didn’t know about the quality of the applications we would receive.  But we discovered that these schools are engaging in some of the most innovative school reforms anywhere. Read more at http://www.ed.gov/blog/2012/04/presenting-the-first-green-ribbon-schools/. View the complete list of winning schools at http://go.usa.gov/yRF

 

President Obama’s Proclamation – Earth Day, 2012 

Supporting environmental literacy and a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math for every student will help ensure our youth have the skills and knowledge to advance our clean energy economy.  Last year, we launched the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition award to encourage more schools to pursue sustainability, foster health and wellness, and integrate environmental literacy into the curriculum. View the Earth Day Presidential Proclamation, including ED-GRS, at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/20/presidential-proclamation-earth-day 

 

White House Summit on Environmental Education – April 16, 2012

The White House Summit on Environmental Education convened stakeholders to discuss the importance of environmental education and recent changes to the discipline, best practices and the federal government’s ongoing commitment to the field. Secretary Duncan said, “Environmental education helps make STEM subjects seem less abstract. In college preparatory and career and technical academies alike, it makes learning green technologies, renewable energy and sustainability very real for students.” Watch Secretary Duncan’s remarks and the full Summit at http://www.epa.gov/education/eesummit.html 

 

Upcoming Events:

National Park Week (April 21 – 29, 2012) – Head out to America's national parks for free where millions of stars light up the dark night sky, deer and antelope (and a few other critters!) play on the wide open range, and history is an unbelievable experience.

School Building Week (April 23 – 27, 2012) – Held annually to strengthen public awareness of the importance of well-planned, healthy, safe and high-performing school buildings that enhance student and teacher performance and contribute to community culture and vitality.

National Healthy Schools Day (April 24, 2012) – Each year, in cooperation with EPA, the Network coordinates National Healthy School Day’s public information events and outreach.

Asthma Awareness Month (May 2012) – The Environmental Protection Agency's Communities in Action Asthma Initiative supports local programs working to help people in their communities bring asthma under control. 

Bike to School Day (May 9, 2012) – Shift gears for the first national Bike to School Day which provides an opportunity for schools across the country to join together to celebrate and to build off of the energy of National Bike Month. 

World Environment Day (June 5, 2012) – A UN-sponsored annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. 

 

Grant Opportunity: USDA's Farm to School

Two types of farm to school grants were recently announced. The funding is intended for school districts or schools, along with State and local agencies; Indian tribal organizations; agricultural producers or groups of agriculture producers; and non-profit entities working in partnership with school districts or schools, to either initiate or further develop existing farm to school initiatives. The deadline to apply is June 15th.  See more information http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s/f2_grant_program.htm

 

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