Recognizing the 2014 Green Ribbon Schools
Floor Speech
Mr. Speaker, I rise today as Chairman of the Green Schools Caucus to highlight the important contributions of the Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools Program and to congratulate all the schools recognized as 2014 Green Ribbon Schools.
This program began in 2011, and seeks to encourage schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education to adopt practices focused on sustainability, health, and environmental education.
The Green Ribbon Schools Program offers awards for outstanding performance based on three categories of achievement. Schools and districts are first evaluated on the basis of success in reducing their overall environmental impact. The award also evaluates school and district strategies to improve the health and wellness of students and staff. Lastly, the Green Ribbon Schools Program examines the extent to which environmental education is offered, and whether those programs incorporate STEM subjects, civics, and green career counseling. All those recognized this year have made exceptional strides in each of these areas.
Those recognized are invited to Washington, DC each year to share their experiences and discuss best practices with other leaders in the field. This process of sharing information and highlighting the achievements of individual schools and districts offers an incentive for others to work toward a common goal of a more sustainable future. It also offers the chance for school officials to compare and contrast strategies for improving curriculums, engage on ways to implement these strategies, and share their successes with others.
At a time when we seek to reduce our carbon footprint, initiatives such as the Green Ribbon Schools Program are a valuable step toward lessening our impact on the environment and educating others as how best to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment. Our schools are well positioned to be leaders in the effort to combat climate change and I commend those schools and districts who have chosen to participate.
Congratulations again to those who have been recognized as 2014 Green Ribbon Schools.
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