U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, School Districts, and Postsecondary Institutions to be Recognized

Archived Information

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, School Districts, and Postsecondary Institutions to be Recognized

Representatives from the 2022 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awardees, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees will be honored in a ceremony Tuesday, July 26 in Washington, D.C. Officials from the schools, districts and postsecondary institutions will receive sustainably crafted plaques in tribute for their achievements.

On hand at the U.S. Department of Education will be U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Assistant Administrator Alejandra Núñez and White House Deputy National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm will offer remarks via a pre-recorded video. Afterward, the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council will host a reception in Washington, D.C.

Across the country, 27 schools, five districts, and four postsecondary institutions will be honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education. In addition, Jon Long with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will be recognized for his efforts to advance school sustainability.

The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 19 states. The list of all selected schools, districts, colleges, and universities can be found here. A report with highlights on the honorees can be found here. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here. Resources for all schools to move toward the “three Pillars” – the threshold for achieving ED’s green school recognition – can be found here.

The Biden Administration has taken significant steps to improve school environmental sustainability, climate, and infrastructure. For its part, the Department has:

  • Strengthened its participation in multiple interagency efforts related to sustainability and climate, including collaborating on the release of a White House toolkit to help schools and districts access available funding and technical assistance to improve school sustainability and environmental health, as part of a broader Plan for Building Better Infrastructure.
  • Administered the American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program, which includes $122 billion to support a wide range of pandemic response and recovery efforts, such as school improvements to ventilation and building energy systems that support healthy environments and reduced energy costs.
  • Offered guidance on the late liquidation of relief funds to accommodate the longer timelines of infrastructure projects.
  • Designated an ED employee as special advisor for infrastructure and sustainability to help drive public engagement, programs, coordination, and guidance with consideration to these matters.

The Department also proposed in its fiscal year 2023 budget the creation of a new office and clearinghouse for infrastructure and sustainability. The new office would provide additional capacity to engage with multi-agency efforts, education stakeholders, states, and districts and advise the Department on matters related to climate, sustainability, environment, and infrastructure.

The clearinghouse would provide technical assistance and training to state and local education agencies on issues related to educational facility planning, design, financing, construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance, including green building design and operation practices consistent with the Administration’s commitment to address the causes and consequences of climate change.

Who :

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm (via pre-recorded video).
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Assistant Administrator Alejandra Núñez.
White House Deputy National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi.
Anisa Heming, director, Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council.
James Elder, Jr., director, Campaign for Environmental Literacy.
Award recipients.

What :

Ceremony honoring the 2022 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awardees, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees

When :

Monday, July 25, 2022
2-3:30 p.m. ET

Where :

(Please note: This event will only be available to the public through livestream on the Education Department’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ED.gov.)

U.S. Department of Education auditorium
Washington, D.C.

RSVP:
pressrsvp@ed.gov