Senate HELP Committee Includes Environmental Education in ESEA Legislation
Tonight, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) completed its mark up of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). During the mark up hearing, the committee accepted an amendment put forth by Senator Casey (PA) that proposed a new grant program entitled “Well-Rounded Education” which includes environmental education as a subject eligible for funding under Title IV of ESEA. This marks an historic shift in federal education policy and is a significant and critical step towards our collective goal of ensuring access to high quality environmental and outdoor education programs for all students.
This is only one more step, but it is a BIG step in the right direction. Senator Harkin, Chairman of the HELP Committee has indicated his interest in bringing the ESEA legislation to the Senate floor for a vote in the coming weeks. We will be closely monitoring this process and pursuing all opportunities to work with our sponsor, Senator Jack Reed (RI) to build on our success and pursue additional opportunities to advance environmental literacy through ESEA. Stay tuned for further updates, and visit www.nclicoalition.org for upcoming details on what the Senate bill would mean for states.
President’s Budget Request Includes Environmental Education
As members of the NCLI Coalition and supporters of environmental education, we have reason to celebrate. On Monday, the Obama Administration released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2012. It once again includes environmental education as a subject eligible for funding within a proposed $246.1M competitive grants program entitled “A Well-Rounded Education”. The grants program is part of the Administration’s budget request for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
The FY12 budget request is different than the proposed Continuing Resolution (CR) being considered on the House floor this week. The CR applies to the current fiscal year (FY11), and if passed, would result in $100 Billion in cuts across domestic spending budgets.
President Obama Visits Baltimore Middle School and Gets a Lesson in Environmental Education
Even more exciting yesterday than the release of the President’s budget was the venue he chose to unveil it—a school where students are using project-based environmental education to hone their STEM skills.
Accompanied by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Obama toured an eighth grade science class at Parkville Middle School. As students demonstrated projects ranging from research of the Chesapeake Bay, to how groundwater gets contaminated by over-fertilized farmland, Obama told the students he was “proud” of them, and the importance of staying focused on scientific research as a way to remain competitive in today’s globalized economy.
You can read the complete story here.
ESEA Reauthorization Advancing
Over the past several weeks, President Obama, Secretary Duncan, and Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly signaled their commitment to reach across political lines to reauthorize ESEA this year.
State Environmental Literacy Plans
To view and download the NAAEE document Developing a State Environmental Literacy Plan, click here
Legislation
To view information about the NCLI Act (H.R.2054) that was referred by the House of Representatives to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, Click Here
To view information about the NCLI Act (S.B.866) that was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Click Here