Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Principals:

California Green Ribbon Schools Recognition Program Request for Applications 2022–23

The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce the opportunity to honor excellence in whole-school sustainability while spotlighting replicable best practices through our California Green Ribbon Schools (CA-GRS) recognition program. Applications are now available for the tenth cycle of the program.

California Green Ribbon Schools incorporate sustainable design or operational practices to help students thrive while reducing their impact on the environment. Many honorees have reported improved attendance and academic outcomes, as well as cost savings, when implementing green school strategies. When sustainability is centered in educational programs and supported by the school environment, students build their environmental literacy, gain exposure to green careers, and obtain skillsets desirable in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields. These experiences promote lifelong environmental stewardship for tomorrow’s leaders.

Since the CA-GRS recognition program began in 2014, the CDE has recognized 92 public schools, 32 school districts, and two county offices of education across the state for helping California lead the way in whole-school sustainability. Join these leaders by pursuing recognition for your school, district, or county office this school year.

Eligible award recipients include school districts, county offices of education, kindergarten through grade twelve public and private schools, and early education centers. Interested parties may request an electronic application and review program information on the CDE Green Ribbon Schools Award Program web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/sf/greenribbonprog.asp. While CA-GRS awards are not limited in number, five honorees will earn a nomination for additional recognition by the Secretary of Education as U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Award winners.

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact the California Green Ribbon Schools team by email at greenribbonschools@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

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2022-01817