Environmental Education

The Environmental Education Program has the primary purpose of supporting programs and projects which will result in long-term educational benefits to potentially all California educators and/or students.

The state legislature approved the allocation of Environmental License Plate Funds (ELPF) to the California Department of Education to support the distribution of funds through the Environmental Education Program. The 2007-10 California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network Grant Request for Application is available.

2007-08 environmental education grant funding results.

Program Questions

Jim Greco, email: jgreco@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-323-6189
Christy Gunsolley, email: cgunsoll@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-323-5549

Statewide Environmental Education Resources

California Environmental Education Interagency Network (CEEIN) (Outside Source)
Consortium of environmental educators from California state agencies who supply environmental educational services, materials, and programs.

California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) (Outside Source)
The mission of the six boards departments, and offices within the Cal/EPA "umbrella"  is to restore, protect, and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality, and economic vitality.

California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) (Outside Source)
Site provides standards based kindergarten through grade twelve curriculum, integrated waste management information and assistance for schools and districts.

CREEC Network (Outside Source)
A statewide project, directed by California Department of Education (CDE), providing educators with high quality environmental education resources. See the CREEC Resource Directory (Outside Source) to access a searchable database of resources in your county, region, or statewide.

Education and the Environment Initiative (Outside Source)
The mission of the Education and Environment Initiative is to develop a unified strategy to bring education about the environment into school districts using the Model Curriculum Plan and California's Environmental Principles and Concepts.

Education and the Environment: Strategic Initiatives for Enhancing Education in California
Publication describes the rationale and strategies to provide the leadership necessary to improve environmental education in California. The plan provides direction and priorities for building a foundation for high quality, environment-based education in California. A copy may be purchased through CDE Press by calling (800) 995-4099 and ordering publication number 001571.

Environmental Education Special Events (Outside Source)
A list of statewide environmental education events, including events such as educator fairs and conferences.

Curriculum Resources

A Child's Place in the Environment (ACPE) (Outside Source)
ACPE is a series of six environmental education curriculum guides for elementary school teachers that integrates science, English-language arts, and selected children's literature and culminates with student projects, which enhance their environment and provide experiences in service learning. Guides correlate to California's content standards in science and English-language arts. Sample assessment questions for ACPE (Outside Source) are available for review.

The California Endangered Species Resource Guide identifies rare, threatened, and endangered species in all 58 counties of California. It is available through CDE Press by calling (800) 995-4099 and ordering publication number 009779.

State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER) (Outside Source)
A cooperative endeavor of sixteen state departments of education working to enhance student achievement through environment-based education.

California Student Assessment Project (PDF; Outside Source; 256 KB; 26 pp.)
A SEER document about the effects of environment-based education on student achievement.

Environmental Education Compendia Series

Topical compilations containing descriptive evaluations of high quality, supplemental, environmental education curricula for kindergarten through grade twelve.

Compendium for Air Quality Curriculum (no longer available)
The compendium identifies quality materials appropriate for the classroom and outdoors.

Communities: A review of curricula on natural and built environments
(CDE Press publication number 009714)

Compendium for Energy Resources (Outside Source)
This compendium is an easy-to-use guide to environmental education materials focusing on energy resources.

Integrated Waste Management and Used Oil
Information on quality instructional materials, which have been teacher-evaluated.
(CDE Press publication number 009721)

Water Resources
Quality instructional materials, which have been teacher-evaluated.
(CDE Press publication number 009798)

Contest

Disney's Environmentality Challenge (Outside Source)
Environmental education program offered to all fifth grade classes in California public and private schools. Gifts are given to students who pledge to care for the environment and to teachers who coordinate projects. Classes that complete projects and submit portfolios to CDE receive recognition and can win prizes.