Special Advisor to the Secretary Donald Yu and U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Director Andrea Falken will visit U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts with Regional Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Curt Spalding on Monday and Tuesday, July 29 and 30, to see and discuss the ways school facilities can enhance the conditions for learning. Federal officials will be joined by the commissioners of education from these states, local superintendents, and other local, state, and regional stakeholders as they visit several award-honored schools in each state.
The visits will include tours of school buildings and grounds, conversations with students and teachers regarding environmental education, health and sustainability, and discussions with key partners and energy management personnel. In addition, all state and district facilities personnel from the region are invited to attend the opening panel and listening session on July 29th in Providence, R.I. The listening session will allow facilities experts in the region to share best practices on school facilities and provide input to ED.The second leg of the Department's Education Built to Last Facilities Best Practices Tour includes schools that exhibit best practices in school building and grounds design, construction, operations and management to support health, equity, educational outcomes, energy efficiency and cost savings in our nation's public schools. In the coming weeks, the tour will visit additional states and schools.The ED-Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Awardees are recognized for reducing their environmental impact, including energy use, waste and water; creating healthy learning environments and fostering wellness practices; and providing effective environmental education that prepares students to succeed in the 21st century, including STEM, green careers, and civics. A report with highlights on the 78 honorees can be found here. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here.