Current EE News and Legislation
No Child Left Inside Movement
Language from No Child Left Inside was included officially in the President’s version of the ESEA (formerly known as No Child Left Behind) on February 1, 2010! Congratulations and thank you supporters! It is exciting to see this movement gaining traction on a national scale along side other major education priorities including early childhood, literacy, STEM and 21st century skills! Never before has environmental education been reflected in a budget!
In next steps, the Earth Day Network and NCLI Coalition are trying to make a national call for kids to learn outside on Earth Day, and are looking for a high-level figure to help lead the way. Let’s get some grassroots momentum going for this and do what we can to facilitate our local students to learn outside on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.
With the NCLI victory still fresh in everybody’s minds; look for a slight shift in focus to the National EE Act in the immediate future.
National Environmental Education Act
The National Environmental Education Act, which was passed in 1990 and is the major funding source for the EPA office of Environmental Education and subsequently many EE organizations and programs through EPA grant money (the National EE Foundation, EETAP, NAAEE), is up for reauthorization. Folks with NAAEE and the National Environmental Education Foundation are working with Congress for reauthorization and hope to get a bill in the Senate and in the House soon, ideally with a signature by President Obama by the end of 2010. The major obstacle right now is getting support from Republican Senators! Senator Lamar Alexander (R- TN) backed out of talks with the National EE Foundation.
Because of a shift in the language in the annual appropriation to the EPA through this ACT (between 9-14 million), there may much less money going towards the grant side of the program next year!!
California’s First Environmental Education Curriculum Receives Approval from the State Board of Education
SACRAMENTO – Linda Adams, Secretary for Environmental Protection, announced that the Agency’s Education and the Environment Initiative’s (EEI) environmental curriculum received final approval from the California State Board of Education for use in California classrooms beginning this year.
“This nation-leading initiative will educate our next generation of workers in environmental preservation and protection and will help catapult California ’s growing green economy,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Protecting our environment and preserving California ’s natural beauty for future generations is a top priority for my Administration. This curriculum will further our deep commitment to high academic standards while balancing environmental preservation and protection and helping to develop a well trained workforce to continue growing California’s economy.”
“This curriculum will expand environmental literacy at a time when protecting our environment is paramount. This will be the benchmark for the nation, likely stretching to foreign countries. The curriculum will help prepare today’s students to become future scientists, economists and green technology leaders,” said Adams .
The curriculum includes 85-units of environment-related education in the traditional subjects of Science and History/Social Science for grades K-12th. It was developed in partnership with business, nonprofits, state agencies and education partners. Seventy-six of the 85 units were approved today, with the remaining nine units to be approved in the Spring. The curriculum will be available online this year and EEI hopes to be able to provide printed versions and teacher training in the coming years. The EEI curriculum has no fiscal impact. To see draft versions of the units, visit www.calepa.ca.gov/Education/EEI/Curriculum/Default.htm#CurriculumUnits.
“This first-in-the-nation environmental curriculum will help change the way we look at solving our environmental problems. Today’s environmental issues are integrated into everyday life, and this curriculum gives us the opportunity to help shape our future leaders and educate them about preserving our environment through their everyday academics,” said Senator Fran Pavley, who introduced the law in 2003.
“This ground-breaking initiative builds on our state’s high academic standards and positions California to lead the nation in environmental literacy and education,” added Superintendant of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. “I look forward to working with our partners to bring this important curriculum into classrooms across the state.”
Experiential Educator
Phone: (775) 355-1688
Email: jamie@sierranevadajourneys.org
Background: University of Phoenix- B.S in Elementary Education; work in progress- M. Ed in Teacher Leadership.
Something you should know about me:
I was first introduced to Sierra Nevada Journeys as an undergraduate student. I participated in several workshops during my time as a student. After graduation I was hired to work on our campus in Portola, CA. At the end of the summer I joined the staff in the Reno office as an Experiential Educator. I enjoy working with SNJ for the opportunity to work with a variety of student populations and the chance to teach curriculum focusing on scientific concepts. The work environment is always positive and encouraging. My role at SNJ is providing me with numerous opportunities and tools to accomplish my personal and
caeegoals.