State education agencies (SEAs) are currently accepting applications for nominees for the 2018 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program, which recognizes schools in three primary areas known as Pillars:
- Reduced environmental impact and costs
- Improved health and wellness
- Effective environmental and sustainability education. States participate on a voluntary basis and are responsible for nominating eligible schools. Any school that wishes to be nominated should contact their SEA contact for application deadlines and further information.
Each SEA may submit as many as five Pre-K-12 schools or districts, including a private school. If more than two schools or districts are nominated, then one nominee must serve at least 40 percent of students from a disadvantaged background. Only one of the potential five nominees may be a private school. Additionally, once selected as an honoree, a school or district may not be selected again.
Nominations from states will be accepted by the Department until March 31, 2018. After nominees are submitted by the state, the Department of Education will review the nominees to ensure that progress is being made on all three Pillars. This review will determine the 2018 honorees that will be announced on Monday April 23, 2018.
Additional Information
This past spring, the Department recognized a total of 63 awardees, including six private schools, for their exemplary and comprehensive efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics, STEM, and green career pathways. The honorees include 45 schools, 9 school districts, and 9 postsecondary institutions.
To learn more about exemplary practices from ED-GRS cohort 2017, review the Highlights from the 2017 Honorees or visit the Green Strides website which provides resources, webinars, case studies, promising practices and collaboration opportunities for schools to make progress across every Pillar of the award.
Note: Dates posted to the ED-GRS website are subject to change. To sign up for updates, visit ED-GRS listserv.
