Colorado Aims to Have Environmental Literacy Plan by April 2011
Organizations and agencies in Colorado are working together to put an environmental literacy plan on the fast track to completion. On May 27, 2010, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, signed the Colorado Kids Outdoors Grants Program Act. The Act established a grant program, through the Department of Natural Resources, to help reconnect youth to nature, and required the State Board of Education to adopt an Environmental Literacy Plan.
The Environmental Literacy Plan builds on the work of the last to years, by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), with participation of Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) to revise the state’s Academic standards. Through CAEE’s work and the state’s emphasis on incorporating 21st Century and workforce readiness skills, environmental education was integrated throughout both Science and Social Studies standards. CAEE and CDE are working to draft an Environmental Literacy Plan by December of 2010, which will be shared by CDE during a statewide tour to collect input and build support from Colorado communities. The State Board of Education anticipates formally adopting the plan in April of 2011 in order to implement the environmental literacy plan and the new academic standards together, lending strength to each.
To learn more about the Environmental Literacy Plan for Colorado, visit the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education online at:
http://www.caee.org/environmental-literacy
Education Week mentions NCLI
A fantastic article came out recently that outlines the potential environmental literacy graduation requirement for Maryland students. Find out the details of how the state education system plans to have environmental literacy "threaded through" the curriculum. This is a huge step forward for environmental education and the NCLI Coalition is eager to help. Be on the lookout for action steps very soon. The article also discusses the national No Child Left Inside® movement. Click to read the full article.
America's Great Outdoor Initiative
On June 25, 2010, the Department of Interior held a public listening session in Annapolis, Maryland as part of its America’s Great Outdoors initiative. The listening session included remarks by Secretary Salazar, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe, USDA Under Secretary Harris Sherman, Senator Ben Cardin, and Congressman John Sarbanes. A panel discussion, moderated by the Secretary, followed opening remarks. During the panel discussion, the need to engage America’s public schools in efforts to better connect youth the environment and engage them in stewardship and conservation, was raised repeatedly.
When a panelist suggested that a model similar to the Maryland Children in Nature program might make sense at the federal level, Secretary Salazar asked a couple of follow up questions and then paused the panel discussion to direct his staff to please schedule a meeting between himself, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to discuss collaborative opportunities to meet the Obama Administration’s goal of “reconnecting Americans, especially children, the outdoors”.
The NCLI Coalition applauds this commitment on the part of Secretary Salazar and looks forward to collaboration across federal agencies in efforts to connect today’s students to the rich natural resources in and around their communities. More information about listening sessions across the country is available at www.Facebook.com/AGOforum.
Obama's "Blueprint for Reform" Includes Environmental Education
An article in USA Today says that "President Barack Obama promised to rewrite the nation's sweeping and controversial education law known as No Child Left Behind with a plan to prepare students for life after high school and to place better teachers at the blackboards." The No Child Left Inside Coalition is happy that this new blueprint includes environmental education. The entire blueprint is available online and President Obama's national address is available online.
The No Child Left Inside® Coalition also cheers President Obama's budget, noting that environmental literacy has been included in the U.S. Department of Education budget for the very first time. Click here to read the full press release.
NCLI is 1 of 4 "Key Pieces of Legislation"
Word continues to spread through the country...and through Congress. The No Child Left Inside Act is now listed as one of four key pieces of legislation in the reauthorization of ESEA on the Ed & Labor Committee Web Site. Check out the website that they have created just for the NCLI Act.
The No Child Left Inside® Coalition is composed of environmental, educational, and public health organizations, businesses, civic organizations and other public enterprises, all dedicated to ensuring a comprehensive education for all.