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U.S.
Department of Education
Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2016
Contact: Press Office (202) 401-1576 or press@ed.gov
Administration Honors
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, Districts, and Postsecondary
Institutions; Announces 2016 Green Strides Tour
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews, Federal Chief
Sustainability Officer Christine Harada, and Deputy Director of the Center for
Green Schools at the US Green Building Council Anisa Baldwin-Metzger joined
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr. today to congratulate the U.S.
Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awardees,
and Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees on their achievements at a ceremony
in Washington, D.C.
At the event, 47 schools and 15 districts were honored for their
exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs, promote better health,
and ensure effective environmental education. In addition, 11 colleges and
universities were honored with the Postsecondary Sustainability Award. Representatives from
honored schools, districts and postsecondary institutions received sustainably-crafted plaques in
recognition of their achievements.
“I
congratulate these honorees that are leaders in school facilities, wellness and
environmental education practices,” King said. “Their common-sense approach to
investing more in education – rather than in utility bills – improves health
and attendance, while exciting students about hands-on, real world learning.
Healthy, safe and efficient facilities as well as access to sustainability
education are innovative ways to boost productivity and performance at every
grade level.”
"With
ongoing threats to our environment, we need to prepare for a future different
from our own. The U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon School
awards are an outstanding example to get today's youth to think and act towards
building a more sustainable future," said Deputy
Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews.
"It is exciting to see the great commitment that our nation's
schools have for environmental sustainability," said Federal Chief
Sustainability Officer Christine Harada. "This exemplary effort will not
only save these schools energy and much needed money, but it will also show
that even the youngest in our society can reduce their carbon footprint and
make a difference in protecting our planet."
“This year’s awardees have much to be proud of -- from innovative
operational practices that save their schools valuable funds to pioneering
education that involves students in the creation of a more sustainable world,”
said Deputy Director of the Center for Green Schools at the US Green Building
Council Anisa Baldwin-Metzger. “We commend these schools, districts, and
postsecondary institutions on their hard work, and we applaud the Department of
Education’s commitment to honoring their success in positively impacting the
environment, supporting health and wellness, and advancing environmental and
sustainability literacy.”
Secretary
King also announced the annual Green
Strides Best Practices Tour, this year under the theme “Real World
Learning.” This year’s tour will take place in September and spotlight
sustainability education in past and present school,
district and
postsecondary honorees in Pennsylvania.
The honorees were selected from a pool of nominations made by 27
state education authorities, including 25 states, the District of Columbia, and
the Department of Defense Education Activity. The list of selectees includes 41 public schools and six private schools.
The public schools include three charter and eight magnet schools. The schools serve various grade
levels, including 27 elementary, 18 middle and 14 high schools are among them,
with several schools having various K-12 configurations. Thirty-seven of the
2016 honorees (51 percent) serve a disadvantaged
student body and among them are two community colleges and one
work-college.
View the list of all selected
schools and districts and summaries of each of the 73
honorees. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here. Resources for all
schools to meet the criteria for the award can be found here.
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