1. Are there two different programs?

2. What is the difference between the two programs?

3. What are the benefits of the each program?

4. What are the different eligibility requirements?

5. How does my school apply?

6. Who do I contact?

 

Are there two different programs?

Yes. The original national Green Ribbon Schools℠ (GRS) program, in development since 2007 and launched online in 2010, has 300+ schools participating nationwide and growing weekly. The GRS program, inspired by the national Children in Nature movement, is designed to facilitate, inspire and champion the great work that schools are doing to:

• Promote healthy living for students, parents and staff
• Encourage students' connection to nature
• Create an environmentally-friendly campus
• Stimulate physical activity and cooperative outdoor play

The newly announced USDOE Green Schools initiative is a program in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The USDOE program recognizes schools':

• Environmental impacts
• Healthy environment
• Environmental literacy

Both programs seek to recognize and award schools that make exemplary efforts in greening schools in the following 3 areas: Environmental Impact and Energy Efficiency; Healthy School Environment; and Environmental and Sustainability Education. Both believe that recognizing schools for their environmental and sustainability efforts is a tremendous step forward in making our schools healthy green living laboratories that will provide students with the skills necessary to innovate and excel in the 21st Century global economy. In fact, the Green Ribbon Schools program and website can help you if you wish to submit to the USDOE program as well.

What is the difference between the two programs?

Green Ribbon Schools (GRS) has worked alongside teachers, administrators, students and designers to create a comprehensive program and user friendly website that aids teachers and students in the creation, implementation and publishing of their efforts to green their own schools and communities. Through the GRS website, students and teachers can share their projects with the global community to inspire others to also take action for a greener, healthier world.

GRS provides a robust website, which leverages the latest in collaborative education technology, providing:

• Resources, How Tos, and grant information
• Collaboration and sharing tools
• Customized multi-media page layouts
• Publishing abilities
• Annual archival to digital portfolio – to track your school's work through the years
• Support of local partners' programs

Green Ribbon Schools is an inclusive program. It provides the opportunity for all schools, regardless of size, budget or location to earn the GRS Award by completing and publishing activities in the four Green Ribbon Schools cornerstones: Eco-Campus, Health & Fitness, Nature Adventure and Natural Classrooms.

USDOE Green Schools is a federally directed recognition initiative encompassing the three institutional roles of schools, including: 1) environmental impact and energy efficiency; 2) school environmental health; and 3) environmental and sustainability literacy.

The Green Ribbon Schools program and the USDOE program do share some similar cornerstones; including an environmentally friendly campus and sustainability as a curricula. Green Ribbon Schools, however, has two additional key focus areas not included in the USDOE program - health & fitness and nature adventure. Plus, the design point of the Green Ribbon Schools program and website is for every school to be able to participate, to start and grow over time.

What are the benefits of each program?

Both programs intend to foster a spirit of renewal and progress within our nation's school systems. By bringing light and recognition to these environmentally conscious proactive schools, both programs hope to reinforce this behavior and foster a movement towards sustainability; while positively impacting students' education and wellness.

Green Ribbon Schools (GRS) fosters this change by empowering students and teachers to take action in the areas of sustainability, health/fitness and nature awareness. Plus, GRS gives teachers and students the technology needed to shout out the results of their environmental projects to the entire world. Through the website and by leveraging various social-media avenues, GRS helps student run projects gain visibility through the GRS website and the greater on-line and off-line community, as well as guide them to ways they can obtain crucial funding for their projects.

In addition to getting recognized, the GRS program can save schools time, and increase impact, by providing the opportunity for teachers/student to keep all activities, and project communication, in one place. GRS gives schools the tools to publish their activities, which allows them to share the results of their work with the wider school community and beyond, creating a sense of pride and accomplishment for the school and helping accelerate adoption and change. The program will greatly enhance a school's visibility in the green movement and will undoubtedly aid schools in receiving attention from federal and state organizations. The GRS program tools can help schools with their USDOE submissions, grant opportunities, and any other recognition programs schools apply to.

The Green Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools' achievements each year with:

• The annual GRS Award
• Digital badges for accomplishments on the website
• Feature on GRS website home page
• Local and National press releases
• Grant opportunities and Funding Programs
• And more...

The USDOE green schools will be recognized for their schools' performance related to environmental impact, health and education.

Schools involved with the Green Ribbon Schools program and the USDOE green school initiative may:

• Report a renewed sense of pride and accomplishment at their school
• Be sought out as mentors to others schools within and outside their school districts,
• Find raising funds and recruiting students is a little easier.

What are the different eligibility requirements?

The Green Ribbon Schools program:

• Is available nationwide to all K-12 schools and higher education, public or private, and soon to schools in other countries.
• Allows all schools to participate immediately by simply registering on the site and starting their activities right away
• Lets schools compete only against themselves if they wish
• Gives schools the ability to earn the Green Ribbon Schools award each year.

The USDOE program requires schools:

• Demonstrate high achievement in the program's pillars and elements;
• Meet all eligibility requirements;
• Comply with all applicable federal civil rights and federal, state and local health, environment and safety statutory and regulatory requirements;
• Meet high college- and career-ready standards

Within the USDOE program, once eligible a school's nomination will be considered by their state or comparable authority, including each Chief State School Officer (CSSO), the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Each authority is permitted only a few nominations each year based on eligibility requirements and criteria. Visit the USDOE website for more information.

How does my school apply?

There is no need to apply for the Green Ribbon Schools program. Schools only need to register on the GRS website and they are able to get started right away. The program is currently provided at no cost to schools. Registration is always open and published activities must be submitted by late May to be eligible for the GRS Award during that school year.

The USDOE program will receive nominations from the Chief State School. Depending on your state, there may be a selection process involving a state level green schools program or other selection infrastructure to identify finalists. States and comparable authorities will be required to make their nominations to the Department by a date in early spring, which will be specified in the coming months, enclosing the evaluation framework from each nominee with an ED Presentation Form, which ED will supply to the authorities once it is approved by the Office of Management and Budget.

Who do I contact?

If you have questions about the Green Ribbon Schools program please visit www.greenribbonschools.org, www.facebook.com/greenribbonschools or email communications@4empowerment.com. We welcome inquiries from state education agencies seeking support in coordinating their schools' efforts for the USDOE program.

If you have questions about the USDOE program, or believe your school qualifies and would like to request that your state or alternative authority consider your school for nomination, you can find their name and contact information on the websites below.

Public and charter schools: www.ccsso.org
BIE: http://www.bie.edu/
DoDEA: http://www.dodea.edu/