ED is dedicated to selling equitable entry to wholesome, protected, sustainable, twenty first century studying environments and environmental sustainability studying. Analysis has demonstrated that fashionable, well-maintained amenities with wholesome indoor environments yield higher scholar efficiency and well being, larger trainer retention, and diminished absenteeism. College buildings and grounds are a vital aspect of equitable entry to studying sources and high-quality studying environments.
Final month, ED sprung into local weather motion with new publications, survey outcomes, and an particularly profitable yr of U.S. Division of Training Inexperienced Ribbon Faculties submissions.
ED Infrastructure and Sustainability Notes Collection Revealed
ED works to share finest practices and join faculties with partnerships and sources by way of the annual Inexperienced Strides Tour, month-to-month newsletters, annual recognition awards, and now, a brand new publication sequence, the ED Infrastructure and Sustainability Notes.
By way of the brand new Notes, ED highlights key ideas and practices of colleges throughout the nation. You will discover a number of Notes on the ED Infrastructure and Sustainability web page, beneath sources. They embrace: Framework for a Sustainable College, The Training Sector in Local weather Motion, College Environmental Justice as Social Justice, How College Operations Have an effect on the Atmosphere, and College Grounds and the Outside.
Nationwide Middle for Training Statistics College Pulse Survey Explores College Services
Fairness, local weather, well being, and studying concerns are interrelated and on the minds of faculty leaders. Only in the near past, the December Nationwide Middle for Training Statistics College Pulse Survey discovered that the typical age of colleges’ major educational constructing is 49 years previous. Apparently, the usage of faculty grounds and outside areas for studying, well being, and the planet are rising. In the identical survey, 34% of colleges responded that they’ve an out of doors area designed for instruction and 47% of colleges responded that they’ve outside area designed for scholar gardening. The COVID-19 pandemic might have really given outside studying a lift. Moreover, the pandemic has introduced consideration the subject of air high quality The Pulse Survey discovered that 39% of colleges have a place that serves as air high quality coordinator and 60% of colleges have designated car loading and unloading space at the least 25 ft from constructing air intakes.
Whereas this knowledge provides a snapshot, it begins to color an image of some amenities, well being, educational, and local weather concerns that faculties are working to unravel right now.
Inexperienced Ribbon Nominations Up by 50 P.c
Relatedly, final month, ED obtained the annual U.S. Division of Training Inexperienced Ribbon Faculties (ED-GRS) nominations from states. These faculties, districts, early studying facilities, and postsecondary establishments are nominated for progress in three broad areas, often known as the Pillars: 1) lowering environmental impacts and prices; 2) bettering well being and wellness; and three) educating efficient environmental and sustainability schooling. The 2024 federal selectees shall be introduced in April after which invited to ship representatives to occasions in Washington, D.C. in July.
With this yr’s ED-GRS nominations, we have been delighted to seek out that nominations from states are actually up by 50% over 2023. The variety of states that participated in 2024 additionally elevated by 33% over final yr. These rising numbers communicate to the variety of faculties participating in entire faculty sustainability efforts.
In case you haven’t already, now is a superb time to enroll for the month-to-month ED Infrastructure and Sustainability Information, the place ED shares the newest faculty local weather, sustainability, and infrastructure associated bulletins, together with funding and webinars from throughout the federal authorities and different companions.
Keep tuned within the ED Infrastructure and Sustainability Information all through the approaching yr for extra publications and actions that disseminate important info on these matters, honor faculties’ hard-fought good points, and encourage further achievements throughout the nation.
