As with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, becoming a Green Ribbon School is a two-step process. The first step is to complete and submit an application to be selected as a nominee by the RI Department of Education (RIDE). The second step of the process requires signatures for the nominee package that will be sent to the US Department of Education. Honorees may find raising financial and technical support for their efforts to be a little easier as a result of their title. All Rhode Island schools are eligible to participate.

Pillar I: Reducing Environmental Impact. Improvements to K-12 school facilities save schools money, strengthen the nation’s energy security, and conserve natural resources. Such improvements may include: reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas; improving water quality, efficiency, and conservation; reducing waste production; and using alternative transportation.

Pillar II: Improving Health. High standards for safety, nutrition, and fitness improve student and staff health, attendance and achievement. These standards can by met by developing an integrated school environmental health program that addresses integrated pest management, contaminant controls and ventilation, nutrition, fitness, outdoor time, and more.

Pillar III: Providing Effective Environmental Education. Environmental education (EE) prepares students to be good citizens and enhances achievement and engagement in all subjects, especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. An effective EE program will enhance the curriculum and instruction of multiple subjects, providing meaningful, authentic, and applied learning experiences inside and outside the classroom and school day. These experiences readily align with the Common Core State Standards as well as the Next Generation Science Standards as they are relevant to the real world, encourage a deeper understanding and application of content, reveal the interconnected nature of science, and more.

Green Ribbon Schools in Rhode Island. Rhode Island has been at the forefront of the green-school movement as well as the EE movement. In 2007, Rhode Island’s school-construction regulations set high standards for energy efficiency and resource-friendly construction. In both EE and school construction, we have forged successful partnerships between the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), RIEEA, formal and nonformal educators, the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the building and construction industries, food-service industries, nonprofit environmental agencies, and federal agencies such as the US Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, each Rhode Island school has the potential to serve as an example on the national stage.

For more information about ED-GRS, visit the website. If you would like to learn more about RIEEA supporting your school as you apply, please contact us.