The document outlines plans for a North Carolina Green Schools Recognition Program. It notes that many other states have developed similar programs to support schools' sustainability efforts. The proposed NC program would provide recognition and resources to all NC schools to help them green their campuses. Schools would be evaluated across six categories: school ground enhancements, sustainability initiatives, curriculum integration, community involvement, administrative support, and innovation. The goal is to create a centralized resource for schools to access state agencies and organizations helping with greening efforts.

1. NC Green
Schools
Recognition
Program

2. Imagine that you are a school in
North Carolina interested in
greening your campus.
Where do you start?
Green Ribbon Schools, USGBC Green Schools, Wildlife Federation Green Schools, Green
Education Foundation, Alliance to Save Energy, EPA,
Project Learning Tree Green Schools, Eco Schools, Green Schools Alliance,
Total Green School Awards, Recyclebank, NC Office of Environmental Education,
NC Project Green,NC DENR,
We currently have no clear and simple path for our schools to
move forward……

3. Other states have developed
Green Schools Programs…
Washington, Wisconsin, Maryland, California, Florida,
Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota,
Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Palm Beach County, San
Jose, Texas, Georgia and Oregon all have Green
School Programs in place.
We are ready in North Carolina to have a program of our own!

4. Supporting all NC
Schools to Go Green
through recognition and
resources

5. The US DoE Green Ribbons
Program is like the Olympics of
Green Schools
Only highest performing schools can win awards
and recognition from the Department of
Education Program

6. The NC Green Schools
Recognition Program is like a
track team in every School!
All North Carolina Schools have the opportunity
to move forward in their efforts and receive
recognition for their successes and initiatives

7. The impetus for a
NC GREEN SCHOOLS RECOGNITION PROGRAM
has come from a collaboration between:
Asheville Buncombe Sustainable Community Initiatives (ABSCI)
Pine Jog Educational Center,
The NC Office of Environmental Education,
Evergreen Community Charter School,
The Green Schools National Network…
AND ALL OF YOU!

8. What is the value of having our own
State Program?
WE CAN CREATE A ONE STOP SHOP
for teachers, students and administrators to access
NC state agencies and non profits who are there to support their efforts:
NC Project Green
NC Office of Environmental Assistance and Outreach
State Energy Office
NC Environmental Education and Public Affairs
Waste Reduction Partners
USGBC Green School Chapters
One North Carolina Naturally
Our schools have so NC Safe Routes to School
NC Wildlife Federation
many resources in NC Division of Air Quality
Environmental Educators of NC
NC but so little time Recycle More NC
NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environment
to find them and RE3.org
understand what
they have to offer!

9. Current Conditions
NC joined the US Dept of Education
Green Ribbon Program
NC invited to join the National Green
Schools Network
DPI and others working on NC
ABSCI has allocated Environmental Literacy plan
funding to jumpstart and Many state resources assigned to
support a NC Green Greening NC Institutions
Schools Program

10. What is a Green School?

11. *Saves energy
*Reduces costs
*Features environmentally
sustainable learning
spaces
*Protects health
*Fosters wellness
*Offers environmental
education to boost
academic
A Green School
achievement and
community
engagement
From U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

12. Recognizes
North Carolina K-12
public and private
schools that
encourage cultures of
sustainability in 5
NC Green Schools designated areas.
Recognition Program
From U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

13. The NC Green
Schools Rubric
An easy to follow guideline for earning
recognition for the work done at your
school

14. Six Categories
•School Ground Enhancements
•School Sustainability
•Curriculum Integration
•Community Involvement
•Administrative Support
•Innovation

15. Creating school grounds that
enhance their use as learning
environments AND add to the
ecological integrity of their
community
1
School Ground
Enhancements
Rain gardens at Evergreen Community Charter School Asheville North Carolina

16. School Ground Enhancements
12 Possible Points
•Outdoor Learning and or Lab Structures
•Habitat Improvement
•Restoration Areas on School Grounds or in
surrounding community

17. Conserving energy and water
and the reduction of solid
waste through the life cycle of
school materials,
2
School Sustainability
Solar Array at Owen Middle School In Swannanoa North Carolina

18. School Sustainability
24 Possible Points
•Energy Conservation
•Water Conservation
•Recycling and Solid Waste
•Green Purchasing Guidelines
•Carpool. Bikes and Bus Enhancements

19. Integrating curriculum that
helps students experience
and understand the natural
environment and their place in
it
3
Curriculum Integration
Outdoor exploration at Hall Fletcher Elementary in Asheville NC

20. Curriculum Integration
20 Possible Points
•Interdisciplinary Approaches
•Environmental Education
•Field Studies

21. Building partnerships with the
community to foster mutually
valuable stewardship
opportunities.
4
Community Involvement
Building a Butterfly Garden at the School of Inquiry and Life Science, Asheville NC

22. Community Involvement
16 Possible Points
•Partnerships within the School Building
•Service Learning
•Community Involvement in School Sustainability
Activities

23. Creating a school philosophy
and culture that embraces
sustainability, encourages
ongoing professional
development and sparks the
creativity and engagement of
all its members.
5
Administrative Support
The Principle at Jones Elementary in Asheville NC leads the way!

24. Administrative Support
20 Possible Points
•School Philosophy and Culture
•Energy and Sustainability Policies
•Professional Development
•Planning
•Sharing Success and Lessons Learned

25. Innovations will be open-
ended and will allow
schools to document what
new initiatives the school is
trying to go above and
beyond in becoming a
6 Green School.
Innovation

26. Innovation
8 Possible Points
•Innovations will be open-ended and will allow
schools to document what new initiatives the
school is trying to go above and beyond in
becoming a Green School

27. What’s in it for the
Schools?
•Top green schools will receive cash awards
•Green School flag for Green Schools of Excellence
•Certificates of Recognition for all schools that place
•Media Recognition and Press Releases
•Green Seed Money for School Projects

28. What are the levels of
Green School
Recognition Awards?
School Of Promise
A school that has scored 40-59 points and is taking the beginning
steps to improve sustainability.

29. What are the levels of
Green School
Recognition Awards?
School Of Quality
A school that has scored 60-79 points and is taking active strides
in improving and maintaining sustainable practice.

30. What are the levels of
Green School
Recognition Awards?
School Of Excellence
A school that has scored 80-100 points and shows the highest
level of commitment to sustainability..

31. How are applications
submitted?
A narrative responding to the
Green Rubric is submitted by
school member
Applications due
March 9, 2012

32. How are applications graded
and scored?
A team of volunteer judges
reviews the submissions and
scores them.
Each school is reviewed by
more than one judge and the
average of all scores are
School will be notified of compiled
scores by April 6, 2012

33. How does the NC
Green Schools
Recognition Program
line up with the US
Department of
Education Green
Ribbons Program?

34. The major components of the
application include:
*A cover sheet completed and
signed by the principal, SAC
chair, and two lead teachers
*A narrative summary of your
schools green activities.
*Documentation of all required
criteria for recognition.
Application are due
March 9, 2012

35. NC Green Schools Dept of Education Green
Recognition Program Ribbon Pillars
School Ground
Enhancements
School Sustainability
Curriculum Integration
Community Involvement
Administrative Support
DOE Green Ribbon Schools Pillars
Environmental and
Environmental Healthy School Sustainability
Impact & Energy Environment Education
Efficiency

36. Proposal
Create a Steering committee
and 5 subcommittees
consisting of state-wide participants to
refine and champion program
1) Content and Framework of Program
2) Outreach to Schools and Partners
3) Sponsorship and Volunteer Recruitment
4)Tools, website, resources
5) Evaluations and Awards

37. For More Information Contact:
Robin Cape
ABSCI projects: Reading Riding and Retrofit
828-505-1831(o)
828-216-4009 (c)
robincape@gmail.com
111 Westwood Road
Asheville, North Carolina 28804