Kentucky’s Environmental Literacy Plan

1. Kentucky’s Environmental Literacy Plan

2. WHAT? • Environmental Literacy An individual’s understanding, skills and ability to make responsible decisions that consider his or her relationships to natural systems, communities and future generations.

3. The Benefits of Environmental Education • Academic • Health • Developmental • Cognitive • Social • Emotional • Work Force Development • Environment

4. Academic • Research across the country shows that when environment-based education is incorporated into schools, student achievement, attendance, behaviors and attitudes improve.

5. Legislation • Presidents’ proposed FY 2011 Budget Blueprint for Reform – • Well Rounded Education--$265 Million • STEM • Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization--pending • No Child Left Inside Act—will be reintroduced this session • 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act

6. No Child Left Inside The No Child Left Inside Act (S. 866/H.R. 2054) The purpose of the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI) is to support local and statewide efforts to educate preK-12 students about the environment and natural resources and to provide enhanced professional development opportunities in environmental education.

7. No Child Left Inside • What the NCLI Act does: • $100 million/year for five years in grants to States to implement State Environmental Literacy Plans (ELPs). • Up to 70% of these funds would be allocated to school districts and eligible partnerships for classroom and outdoor EE programs. • At least 30% would be allocated to teacher professional development. • States must have a completed ELP to be eligible for funding. Provisions of NCLI Legislation

8. Elements of Kentucky’s State Environmental Literacy Plan 1. Specific content standards, content areas, and courses or subjects where instruction takes place. 2. A description of how state high school graduation requirements will ensure that graduates are environmentally literate. 3. A description of programs for professional development of teachers to improve their environmental content knowledge, skill in teaching about environmental issues, and field-based pedagogical skills. 4. A description of how the state education agency will measure the environmental literacy of students.

9. Elements of Kentucky’s State Environmental Literacy Plan 5. A description of how the state education agency will implement the plan, including securing funding and other necessary support. 6. A description of how the state education agency will encourage school districts to “green” the buildings and grounds 7. A description of how the state education agency will encourage teachers and administrators to provide significant outdoor experiences for their students

10. For more information • Kentucky Environmental Literacy Plan Task Force • Co chairs • Billy Bennett, william.bennett@eku.edu • Felicia Cummins-Smith, Felicia.Smith@education.ky.gov • Melinda Wilder, melinda.wilder@eku.edu • Kentucky Alliance for Environmental Literacy http://keec.ky.gov/KELA/