TOOLS TO GREEN YOUR SCHOOL

In spring 2023, the Smithsonian Science Education Center contracted with Gallup to conduct a study of U.S. K-12 teachers and school administrators, as well as teachers of students in comparable grade levels in four peer countries: Brazil, Canada, France and India. The goal was to gauge attitudes toward, and demand for, education and resources related to sustainable development. In the United States, educational resources exist within school and district curricula, which must adhere to state standards. Internationally, however, different countries and provinces often have a National Curriculum, typically directed by their Ministries of Education. This study was an outgrowth of the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s Smithsonian Science for Global Goals project, which aims to improve STEM Education for Sustainable Development for youth around the world. Download the report to read the findings.

This report, published by the Center for Green Schools in partnership with the Campaign for Environmental Literacy, examines how state legislation, as one piece of a complex puzzle, can help prepare graduates for a future impacted by the climate crisis. The report provides:

• Detailed talking points with citations for making the case
• Essential elements of climate change education legislation
• Model state bill framework
• Profile examples of legislation that supports climate change education in the formal K-12 education system

Educators can work to advance climate solutions — solutions students can see in their schools. The Educator Advocacy Toolkit, developed in partnership between This Is Planet Ed, The National Education Association, and The American Federation of Teachers, provides educators with the strategies and resources to advance climate action locally in their school districts, including talking points to help build consensus and specific programs to leverage for funding.