By: George Garcia

Green schools engage kids to understand and act on environmental issues in high-quality learning environments that support the whole child. Our California Green Ribbon Schools Recognition Award (CA-GRS) highlights promising practices at the intersection of sustainability, health, and environmental literacy from across the state. Honorees seek to make a systemic change at their sites to conserve resources, promote health and wellness programs, and anchor environmental principles and concepts across the curriculum. Ca-GRS Schools are thriving environments, take a look at what some of our California Green Achievers have done:

At Carrisa Plains Elementary School, students are responsible for daily vermicomposting that produces “worm tea” to help the garden flourish while keeping lunch waste out of the landfill. Recently, instructional time was set aside for students to create “habitats” for native animals to use as hideouts. 

Science and horticulture curriculum are integrated into a single four-year Career Technical Education pathway combining environmental science and sustainable landscaping, at Jack London Community Day School; and urban horticulture is taught as a way to meet the needs of an increasingly urban environment without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Eligible award recipients include school districts, county offices of education, kindergarten through grade twelve public and private schools, and early education centers. Interested parties may request an electronic application and review program information on the Green Ribbon Schools Award Program web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/sf/greenribbonprog.asp. 

For more information visit the California Green Ribbons Schools Award Program or contact George Garcia, Green Ribbon Program lead at GREENRIBBONSCHOOLS@cde.ca.gov

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