California Integrated Waste Management Board

2004 Annual Report: Environmental Education

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Background

During 2004, the Office of Education and the Environment focused its resources on implementing the mandates of the School Diversion and Environmental Education Law (DEEL), Chapter 926, Statutes of 2001 (SB 373, Torlakson).

The School DEEL requires the Office to do the following:

  • Create a grant program for schools and school districts to implement integrated environmental education and integrated waste management practices.
  • Establish an Environmental Ambassador Pilot Program (EAPP) that promotes sustainable school programs; coordinate instruction with on-site action programs; establish service learning partnerships; and assess the impact of these programs on student achievement and resources conservation.
  • Develop and implement a Unified Education Strategy (UES) on the environment for elementary and secondary schools.
  • Develop a teacher training plan for the UES and accompanying materials.
  • Develop school waste reduction tools and models for implementation.
  • Evaluate implementation of school waste reduction and recycling programs in California schools.

The School DEEL requires the Board to work closely with the state’s educational community in developing and implementing environmental education and integrated waste management practices. In consultation with the California Department of Education, State Board of Education, and Secretary of Education, the Board developed two grant programs in 2003: 1) the Environmental Ambassador Pilot Program, and 2) the Unified Education Strategy (UES) Grant Program.

Environmental Ambassadors

The Environmental Ambassador Pilot Program is intended to help participating school districts to design sustainable elementary and secondary environment-based education and integrated waste diversion school programs. The grant program began in summer 2003 and will conclude in spring 2005.

The following six school districts are participants in the Environmental Ambassador Pilot Program (EAPP): Burbank Unified, Desert Sands Unified, Eureka City Schools, Oak Grove Union, San Juan Unified, and Warner Unified.

Unified Education Strategy Program

The UES Grant Program is intended to coordinate instructional resources with on-site conservation programs, promote service learning, and assess the impact of these efforts as they relate both to student achievement and resource conservation. The grant program began in summer 2003 and will conclude in spring 2005.

The Board approved the selection of the following 11 school districts to participate in phase two of the UES Grant Program.

Phase two of the UES Grant Program allowed the UES teams to work on the following key efforts:

  • Develop an implementation plan of instructional lessons that integrate teaching with waste diversion and resource conservation practices (Education Unit).
  • Conduct a student-facilitated community-based investigation and service learning project of the local waste management issues.
  • Continue and expand local community partnerships with local agencies and community groups for program support and technical expertise.
  • Develop and implement pre- and post-assessment.
  • Conduct an evaluation.

Each UES team was required to produce an education unit. The premise for the education unit was to have students actively work on assessing the current practices used on their campus and/or in their community to manage their school’s waste streams or help with community efforts. Through this exercise, the students were able to use the data and results of their assessment to formulate a service learning project.

Select a district link above to learn more about Unified Education Strategy activities.

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Teacher Training

An important feature of the School DEEL Implementation Plan is the professional development training provided by the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER). The first round of training for the EAPP and UES grantees was conducted in summer 2003. These week-long institutes focused on how to develop a program that integrates environment-based education with waste diversion and resource conservation practices.

The training was a catalyst for systemic reform of resource efficiency and student academic performance in the school districts. In 2004, additional professional development trainings were provided to the UES grantees to augment their program from year one and begin moving their programs and projects forward.

The EAPP and UES programs will conclude in June 2005. The Board will report to the Legislature on the findings and recommendations of both the EAPP and UES pilot schools.

Other 2004 Environmental Education Highlights

  • The Board actively coordinated the program developments of environmental education legislation enacted by Chapter 665, Statutes of 2003 (AB 1548, Pavley) and began implementing the education-related requirements of this legislation.
  • The Board took over the administration of the School Energy Efficiency (SEE) Program from the State and Consumer Services Agency. The focus of the program was to offer energy efficiency education and facility improvements to the undeserved population of California’s Central Valley. With a grant award of $4.5 million from the California Public Utilities Commission, the program was highly successful in reaching the targeted audiences and was instrumental in bringing energy education to 55 school districts in the region. The program ran from June 2002 through December 1, 2004.
  • The Board continues to participate as a partner in the California Environmental Education Interagency Network (CEEIN), a consortium of State agencies who network to collaborate on environmental education initiatives. CEEIN also partners with the Walt Disney Company in Jiminy Cricket’s Environmentality Challenge, an environmental education program for fifth-grade students in California schools.

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Last updated: November 1, 2005
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