|
Council of State Science Supervisors
|
Green Ribbon SchoolsState Coordinators that are continuing to honor green schools can contact Anisa Heming [aheming@usgbc.org], Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, to join state coordinator collaboration sessions for additional support. Supports that have been provided since 2024-2025:
|
|
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (Ed-GRS)
Program Paused
The US Department of Education has not opened the ED-GRS nomination portal since the 2023-2024 cycle.
- Past honorees can be found on the US Department of Education website.
Overview of ED-GRS
The US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award (ED-GRS) honors public and private schools, school districts and institutions of higher education that are exemplary in all three of the following areas:- Reducing environmental impact and costs
- Improving health and wellness of schools, students, and staff
- Providing effective environmental education
Combined progress in ALL three of these areas, collectively known as Pillars, serves as the basis for recognition. Each Pillar is divided into Elements, which provide further guidance on each of the three main areas. ED-GRS aligns with the Department of Education’s cross-cutting goals for education, including improving student, staff, and facility performance and increasing efficiency at the federal, state, and local levels.
Awardees receive a plaque and a flag for the school, local recognition, and an invitation to the national ceremony in Washington, DC. The awards are announced on Earth Day and the national award ceremony occurs in the summer.
Chief State School Officers, in collaboration with state offices of higher education, nominate schools for this award by February 1. Most often states use an application process to select the nominees. To participate in the program, state coordinators should indicate an interest to the program coordinator’s email address below.
Twitter and Facebook: @EDGreenRibbonSchools
ED Green Ribbon Schools Fact Sheet: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/factsheet.pdf