U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, Districts and Postsecondary Institutions Recognized; Green Strides Tour Announced
Washington, D.C. – Forty-six schools and six districts were honored today at the 2018 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools ceremony for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education.
In addition, six colleges and universities were recognized with the Postsecondary Sustainability Award. Representatives from honored schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions received sustainably crafted plaques in recognition of their achievements.
On hand for the ceremony at the U.S. Commerce Department were Assistant U.S. Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Frank Brogan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Education Director Louisa Koch, Director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy James L. Elder and Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council Anisa Heming.
“Today’s honorees can be proud of what they have accomplished in their local communities,” Brogan said. “They have reduced institutional operating costs and helped conserve our precious natural resources, while engaging students in authentic sustainability learning in safe, healthy and inspiring environments.”
“Our children are the hope and promise for our future and an even better future for generations to come,” Koch said. “The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition awards honor what the students, teachers and staff are doing to make the world a better place.”
“Over the past seven years, U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools have helped to define what it means to be a sustainable school and how to effectively offer environmental education, so it’s my pleasure to celebrate this work annually,” Elder said.
“U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools support students’ development into responsible, compassionate and engaged citizens,” Heming said. “We applaud these outstanding schools, districts and postsecondary institutions for improving educational facilities to promote health and environmental stewardship, and for ensuring students have an opportunity to engage in real-world learning about the natural environment and the world around them. We also commend the U.S. Department of Education’s continued commitment to highlighting these schools’ successes through this program.”
Brogan also announced the 2018 Green Strides Tour, this year under the theme, “Living School Grounds.” This year’s tour will take place in October and spotlight the use of school grounds to achieve environmental, health, and educational aims in past school honorees in Missouri.
The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 25 states and the Department of Defense’s Department of Education Activity. The selectees include 40 public schools, including two magnet schools and two charter schools, as well as six nonpublic schools. Forty-five percent of the 2018 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body.
View the list of all selected schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions and summaries of each of the 58 honorees. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here. Resources for all schools to meet the award criteria can be found here.