ED Launches "Green Ribbon" Program To Promote School Sustainability Efforts

THE Journal (4/27, Nagel) reports that ED is launching "a new program to recognize schools for their sustainability efforts. The Green Ribbon Schools program--being administered by ED and supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Council on Environmental Quality--will be modeled on the Blue Ribbon Schools program (also administered by ED). But instead of focusing on academic achievement, the program will recognize schools for 'energy conservation, creating healthy learning spaces, and teaching environmental literacy,' according to information released by the department Tuesday." The piece quotes a statement from Education Secretary Arne Duncan saying, "Preparing our children to be good environmental citizens is some of the most important work any of us can do."