2001 Annual Report: Environmental Education 

Chapter 926, Statutes of 2001 (SB 373, Torlakson) codified the new Office of Integrated Education created in early 2001 by the Board. The bill requires the office to undertake a variety of activities to institute environmental education concepts in California schools.

• In concert with the State Board of Education, establish environmental concepts in the science frameworks through the California Education Code.
• Establish an environmental ambassador pilot program that promotes sustainable school programs, coordinated instruction with on-site action programs, service learning partnerships, and assessment of the impact of these programs on student achievement and resources conservation.
• Develop and implement a unified education strategy on the environment for elementary and secondary schools.
• Develop a teacher-training plan for the unified education strategy and accompanying materials.
• Develop models and schools waste reduction tools.
• Evaluate implementation of school waste reduction and recycling programs in California schools.
• Create a grant program for schools and school districts to implement integrated environmental education and integrated waste management practices.

To achieve the unified education strategy contained in SB 373, the Office of Integrated Education will align the education efforts of other Cal/EPA boards, departments, and offices into an integrated, cohesive education program. The program will provide maximum resource efficiency and begin looking at a “systems approach” to our educational services and products.

Planning and implementing activities mandated by SB 373 will be a primary focus of the office in 2002. Advisory committees will be formed to assist in developing the unified education strategy and the grant program. Work will begin early in the year with an education consultant to assist with the unified education strategy, targeted for completion in December 2002. School education grants should be available beginning in January 2003.

In other educational efforts in 2001, the Board:

• Took the lead in developing education resources for the border environmental program. An anthology of environmental education lessons is being developed with input from teachers in Mexico on issues, priorities, and teaching strategies. Field-testing of the first units will begin in early 2002; teacher-training workshops will be held to introduce and distribute a final product to Mexico’s teachers. A fall 2001 border education workshop at the University of Baja featured translated materials from the Board’s Closing the Loop anthology and other curricula. The workshop will also be televised at other locations in Baja.
• Participated in the development of a statewide strategic plan for environmental education, which will be rolled out by the California Department of Education in 2002.
• Partnered with the California Science Teachers Association (CSTA) to produce Internet-based resources—tied to California education standards—for secondary teachers. In this effort, top science teachers are working with Cal/EPA technical staff to develop case studies on environmental themes. The first unit, on composting, is being developed, reviewed, and field-tested and will serve as the prototype for potential future units on other topics.
• Initiated a professional development program for teachers to support the Earth Resources curriculum. Mentor teachers completing the program in 2001 are conducting regional workshops for other teachers.

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