FEDERAL UPDATE
Shannon Sprague, NOAA
Federal Funding
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Environmental Education Programs largely eliminated in FY
2013:
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NOAA Environmental Literacy Grants ($8M appropriation)
NOAA B-WET Grants ($9.7M)
EPA's Office of Environmental Education ($9.7M)
NSF climate change education grants ($6M down to $500K)
Also – in FY 2012 the Administration eliminated NASA's
$10M climate change education grant program
Administration proposed including environmental literacy in
a new $90 million "Effective Teaching and Learning For a
Well Rounded Education" grant program at the Department
of Education that combines existing grant programs for
civics, arts, economics, history, and others.
White House Summit
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April 16, 2012
Panelists and participants addressed the challenges
of environmental education in an increasingly
technology-driven world
Panels:
 21st
Century Environmentalism
 Innovators in Environmental Education
 Federal Government as a Convener and Catalyst Supporting and Connecting Environmental Education
Partners, Activities and Goals
EPA EE Capacity Building Workshop
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EECapacity is funded by EPA and housed in Cornell
University’s Civic Ecology Lab
EECapacity links two groups of professionals:
established environmental educators
 emerging group of grassroots, urban environmental
educators
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States: Maryland, Colorado, California + Mexico
Dissemination partners: NOAA, FWS, NAAEE affiliates,
AZA, etc.
NAAEE will be developing guidelines on engaging
communities
Next Generation Science Standards
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26 states drafting new standards
Views science as both a body of knowledge and an evidence-based, model
and theory building enterprise that continually extends, refines, and revises
knowledge
3 dimensions are used to create each standard:
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Practices
Cross-cutting concepts
Disciplinary Core Ideas
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Physical Sciences
Life Sciences
Earth/Space Sciences
Engineering, Technology ,and Applications of Science
First public comment period from May 11-June 1; Second public comment
period Fall 2012
Will be completed 2013
http://www.nextgenscience.org/
Green Ribbon Schools
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Award ceremony – June 4, 2012
78 schools honored; 50% underserved
3 pillar areas:
 Environmental
Impact and Energy Efficiency
 Healthy School Environments
 Environmental and Sustainability Education
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July 2012 – Criteria for next round of awards will
be release
First Green Strides Webinar:
Thursday, June 21, 2012, from 1 – 2 p.m. EDT
Awardees
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D.C.
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Maryland
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Radnor Middle School, Wayne, PA
Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School, Chambersburg, PA
A.W. Beattie Career Center, Allison Park, PA
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Philadelphia, PA
Virginia
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Dunloggin Middle School, Ellicott City, MD
Francis Scott Key Middle School, Silver Spring, MD
Folger McKinsey Elementary School, Severna Park, MD
Lucy School, Middletown, MD
Pennsylvania
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Stoddert Elementary, NW
Sidwell Friends School, NW
Fishburn Elementary School, Roanoke, VA
Gereau Center, Rocky Mount, VA
West Virginia
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Hilltop Elementary, Wheeling, WV
Wyoming County Career and Technical Center, Pineville, WV