This bill aims to significantly enhance the Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools Program, boosting the capacity of states to engage more schools in environmental, environmental literacy, and environmental health goals. The program encourages eligible entities, including elementary and secondary schools, local educational agencies, and institutions of higher education, to implement three core "Green Ribbon pillars": ensuring environmentally literate graduates, significantly reducing environmental impacts of operations, and achieving a net positive impact on student and staff environmental health. To achieve these goals, the Secretary of Education will update the award criteria to align with health and wellness standards from the EPA and CDC, emphasize climate change mitigation, and encourage assessment of student environmental literacy. The bill authorizes competitive grants for State Educational Agencies (SEAs), requiring them to dedicate at least 40 percent of funds to support under-resourced schools. These grants will help SEAs establish state-level Green Ribbon awards, partner with organizations, disseminate best practices, and provide training to schools. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a parallel Green Ribbon award program for nonformal learning institutions such as museums and libraries, recognizing their efforts in environmental education and sustainability. It also creates an Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Department of Education to provide technical assistance, training, and resources for green building design and operation in schools. The bill authorizes significant appropriations to fund these initiatives, including honoraria for award winners and support for the new office.
This bill aims to significantly enhance the Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools Program, boosting the capacity of states to engage more schools in environmental, environmental literacy, and environmental health goals. The program encourages eligible entities, including elementary and secondary schools, local educational agencies, and institutions of higher education, to implement three core "Green Ribbon pillars": ensuring environmentally literate graduates, significantly reducing environmental impacts of operations, and achieving a net positive impact on student and staff environmental health. To achieve these goals, the Secretary of Education will update the award criteria to align with health and wellness standards from the EPA and CDC, emphasize climate change mitigation, and encourage assessment of student environmental literacy. The bill authorizes competitive grants for State Educational Agencies (SEAs), requiring them to dedicate at least 40 percent of funds to support under-resourced schools. These grants will help SEAs establish state-level Green Ribbon awards, partner with organizations, disseminate best practices, and provide training to schools. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a parallel Green Ribbon award program for nonformal learning institutions such as museums and libraries, recognizing their efforts in environmental education and sustainability. It also creates an Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Department of Education to provide technical assistance, training, and resources for green building design and operation in schools. The bill authorizes significant appropriations to fund these initiatives, including honoraria for award winners and support for the new office.