Environmental Education and Environmental Literacy
Information on current environmental literacy resources and grant opportunities.Distance Learning and COVID-19 Science Resources
Guidance and resources for teachers and families in K-12 schools regarding high quality distance learning (Content Resources tab)
Overview
State Guidance
Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs)
The EP&Cs examine the interactions and interdependence of human societies and natural systems. Students and teachers need not memorize the five environmental principles and 15 supporting concepts. Rather, they are “big ideas” intended to inform standards-based instruction and fuel student inquiry. Teachers can support environmental literacy by helping students to understand and apply the EP&Cs across academic disciplines and in the real world. More information is available through this California Department of Education (CDE) Environmental Principles and Concepts web page.
The CDE supports the implementation of the EP&Cs, environmental education and environmental literacy (including climate change) in kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12) schools, through our California Regional Environmental Education Community Program and by providing access to resources and grant opportunities both internal and external to CDE.
Publications
A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy
In June 2014, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Tom Torlakson convened the California Environmental Literacy Task Force (ELTF) to think deeply about how to build a future for an environment that is sustainable, healthy, prosperous, and equitable. The resulting report produced by the ELTF to the SSPI in September 2015, A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy: Educating Every Student In, About, and For the Environment provides guiding strategies and recommendations to realize the ambitious goal of achieving environmental literacy for all California students.
Report
A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy: Educating Every Student In, About, and For the Environment (PDF)
Accessible Alternate Version of A Blueprint for Environmental Literacy
Lyris Email List
Email lists: If you would like to receive Environmental Science Education updates via email notification about resources, workshops, institutes, funding opportunities, contests, and legislation related to Environmental Science and Environmental Education, subscribe to the Lyris email list by sending a "blank" message to join-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.If you would like to unsubscribe from the Environmental Science Education Lyris email list, send a "blank" message to unsubscribe-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.
Environmental Education (EE) Grants
California Department of Education (CDE) Environmental Education Grant Program (EEGP)
The CDE’s EEGP provides grants to support projects that will result in long-term educational benefits to California educators and students. The EEGP plays a vital role in supporting a network known as the California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network. The CREEC Network helps connect California educators with professional development and information about high-quality, standards-based environmental education programs.
Funded projects provide high-quality instructional resource materials and professional learning opportunities for educators and help connect teachers to regional environmental literacy and education sites with the goal of increasing students' environmental literacy levels. California Public Resources Code Chapter 1105 Section 21190(c) permits the State Department of Education to administer moneys appropriated "for the purposes of this subdivision to fund environmental education programs of school districts, other local schools, state agencies other than the State Department of Education, and community organizations."
EEGP Request for Applications
In 2021, the CDE received an allocation of $360,000 from the Environmental License Plate Funds (ELPF) to be distributed per Public Resources Code Chapter 1105 Section 21190 (c) "for the purposes of this subdivision to fund environmental education programs of school districts, other local schools, state agencies other than the State Department of Education, and community organizations.” The 2021-22 Request for Applications (RFA) for the California Environmental Literacy Projects is available for viewing.
Current Funding Results
- The 2023-24 Environmental Education Grant Program funding results are available for viewing.
Past Funding Results
- The 2022-23 Environmental Education Grant Program funding results are available for viewing.
- The 2021-22 Environmental Education Grant Program funding results are available for viewing.
- The 2020-21 Environmental Education Grant Program funding results are available for viewing.
Other Grants Available to Schools
California Coastal Commission Whale Tail Grants
The California Coastal Commission offers WHALE TAIL® Grants
for nonprofits, schools, and government entities.
California State Parks Grant Program
The Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS)
develops grant programs that provide funding for local, state, and nonprofit organization projects.
Grants Posted on CREEC Network Website
Use this map to locate your CREEC Region number and click on the appropriate Region link to see statewide and regional grants for incorporating environmental literacy into schools.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Education Grants
Under the Environmental Education Grants Program
, EPA seeks grant applications from eligible applicants to support environmental education projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship and help provide people with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment.
Lyris Email List
Email lists: If you would like to receive Environmental Science Education updates via email notification about resources, workshops, institutes, funding opportunities, contests, and legislation related to Environmental Science and Environmental Education, subscribe to the Lyris email list by sending a "blank" message to join-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.If you would like to unsubscribe from the Environmental Science Education Lyris email list, send a "blank" message to unsubscribe-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.
Programs & Resources
CDE Programs and Initiatives
California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network
The CREEC Network is a program of the California Department of Education. The CREEC Network is a network supporting the environmental literacy of California’s students by providing teachers with access to high quality environmental education resources.
Green Ribbon Schools Award Program
The California Green Ribbon Schools (CA-GRS) recognition award uses the applications submitted for nomination to the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) to recognize schools and school districts across the state for environmental excellence and demonstrated achievement of the three Pillars of ED-GRS.
Resources
California's Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&C's)
The EP&C's examine the interactions and interdependence of human societies and natural systems.
Webinars
Lyris Email List
Email lists: If you would like to receive Environmental Science Education updates via email notification about resources, workshops, institutes, funding opportunities, contests, and legislation related to Environmental Science and Environmental Education, subscribe to the Lyris email list by sending a "blank" message to join-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.If you would like to unsubscribe from the Environmental Science Education Lyris email list, send a "blank" message to unsubscribe-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.
Partners & Networks
Partner Statewide Networks
California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE)
AEOE is a professional association for environmental and outdoor educators. AEOE is the California state affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education.
California Environmental Education Interagency Network (CEEIN)
CEEIN is a network which includes state agencies such as the CDE, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the California Natural Resources Agency, and the Department of Food and Agriculture. A
web page provided by the California Coastal Commission provides access
to more information about CEEIN, a calendar of events, and resources available from each participating agency.
The California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI)
CAELI is a public-private partnership that works with education partners throughout California, building the capacity for all K–12 students to become environmentally literate. CAELI, led by Ten Strands
, works with statewide guidance from a leadership council to support environmental literacy with a focus on access, equity, and cultural relevance.
California Outdoor Schools Association (COSA)
COSA is a statewide network of outdoor schools and faculty that are managed by local educational agencies.
Lyris Email List
Email lists: If you would like to receive Environmental Science Education updates via email notification about resources, workshops, institutes, funding opportunities, contests, and legislation related to Environmental Science and Environmental Education, subscribe to the Lyris email list by sending a "blank" message to join-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.If you would like to unsubscribe from the Environmental Science Education Lyris email list, send a "blank" message to unsubscribe-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.
Climate Change
In addition to our Environmental Education and Environmental Literacy web page, Multiple California Department of Education (CDE) web pages and California County Office of Education web pages provide information and resources to teach adults and students in grades TK-12 about climate change. Climate change education is a critical component of environmental literacy education. Environmentally literate citizens are necessary to help people survive in particular areas of the Unites States affected by climate change and to create necessary technology and mitigation practices. Therefore, the CDE currently has multiple programs to help create environmentally literate California citizens.
Professional Learning
Climate change is addressed through multiple academic content areas provided on the CDE Professional Learning Curriculum Areas web page. The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network provides professional learning opportunities, access to high quality curriculum instructional materials, and support to teachers to develop lessons related to environmental literacy. More information about the CREEC Network can be found on the CDE CREEC Network web page.
State Content Standards
Climate change is addressed through multiple academic content areas provided on the CDE Content Standards web page.
State Frameworks
Climate change is addressed through multiple California State Frameworks provided on the Curriculum Frameworks & Instructional Materials web page.
California Green Ribbon School Award Program Resources
Climate change is addressed in multiple resources that help California schools achieve a California Green Ribbon School Aware. Resources are listed on the Green Ribbon Application Resources web page.
California Environmental Principles and Concepts
The California Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&C's) examine the interactions and interdependence of human societies and natural systems. As stated in California Education Code Section 51227.3. "the environmental principles and concepts shall be incorporated, as the state board determines to be appropriate, in the criteria developed for textbook adoption required pursuant to Section 60200 or 60400." More information about the EP&Cs is provided on the San Diego County Office of Education's Environmental Literacy in CA
web page.
Resources to Teach About Climate Change
CREEC Network Resources
Use this map to locate your CREEC Region number and click on the appropriate Region link to see statewide and regional resources for incorporating environmental literacy (including climate change) into lessons with students.
Lyris Email List
Email lists: If you would like to receive Environmental Science Education updates via email notification about resources, workshops, institutes, funding opportunities, contests, and legislation related to Environmental Science and Environmental Education, subscribe to the Lyris email list by sending a "blank" message to join-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.If you would like to unsubscribe from the Environmental Science Education Lyris email list, send a "blank" message to unsubscribe-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov.
