Communication Plan 2000-2001

Goal #1

To communicate the value of EE to Wisconsin school board members and school administrative staffs and to increase their support for EE.

Objective 1A – School boards and school administrative staffs will evaluate their district’s K-12 EE curriculum requirements and support the development and implementation of curriculum plans based on the new DPI EE Guidelines

Objective 1B – School boards and school administrative staffs will increase their support for EE programs by placing greater emphasis on funding and staff development.

Strategies for Targeting School Boards and School Administrative Staff

A) Organizational Steps

• Obtain mailing lists of school administrative staffs, including school principals, curriculum coordinators and district superintendents.
• Determine the level of implementation and evaluation of the legislatively required EE Curriculum plans in Wisconsin school districts through surveys completed with the assistance of the EE Liaison Teachers and the teachers enrolled in the Summer EE Master’s program at the UW-SP. (Based on prior research and on recently completed research it is known that implementation levels are low).
• Develop a news release highlighting the lack of school district compliance with state legislation and Department of Public Instruction rules requiring the development, implementation and evaluation of K-12 EE Curriculum Plans. The story will also point to other shortcomings: a) lack of EE assessment, b) unlike surrounding states, Wisconsin has no DPI EE Specialist position, etc.
  Story – Wisconsin schools are not meeting state requirements to provide an environmental education to our children. Surrounding states are doing much more. This is in spite of the fact that 96% of the nation’s parents want EE taught to their children in schools.
• Develop components of the organizing packet including:
  • An explanation of the benefits of EE
  • Example letters to school board members and school administrative staffs
  • Specific questions to ask school board members and school administrative staffs
  • Key messages to communicate to school board members and school administrative staffs
  • Example letters to the editor describing the need for increased emphasis on EE in the local K—12 curriculum. The packet will also include suggestions for implementing this effort.
  • Identify organizations and individuals who are willing to become involved in efforts to communicate the need for EE in the K-12 curriculum to school boards and school administrative staffs.
  • Develop and disseminate a persuasive article for appropriate newsletters (WAEE, Wisconservation, etc.) and targeted mailings (WAEE members, etc.) describing the need to communicate to school boards and school administrative staffs the importance of strengthening EE in their districts. The article would also request people to become involved in this effort and provide information on how to obtain the organizing packet containing implementation suggestions and resources.

B) Implementation Steps

• Distribute the organizing packet to select EE supporters across the state.
• Disseminate the news release to state media markets regarding the shortcomings in implementation of legislative and DPI EE requirements and the potential association of these shortcomings and the lack of environmental literacy in the K-12 students of Wisconsin. Organize editorial board, radio and television follow-up stories.
• Request interested parties to write letters of concern to school boards, individual school board members, school administrative staffs, and their local newspaper. Parents, teachers, environmental organizations, environmental education organizations, and community businesses are all potential interested parties. Letters should address specific concerns and encourage a review of the district’s EE curriculum and a discussion of the status of the curriculum at a school board meeting.
• Encourage interested parties to attend and participate in the school board meeting that the EE curriculum and curriculum review is discussed.
• Encourage interested parties to present their views on the district’s EE curriculum at multiple school board meetings and at statewide events, such as the Wisconsin Association of School Boards annual conference.
• Encourage your school board members and school administrative staffs to participate in EE professional development. Alert them of upcoming events, conferences, and courses. Possibly provide assistance with registration or otherwise coordinate their involvement.
• Highlight exemplary EE that is occurring in their district or nearby districts in the form of a letter, in person at a board meeting, or by providing them the opportunity to have a hands-on experience viewing the program in action.
• Coordinate student involvement in as many of the above strategies as feasible and age appropriate. Provide opportunities for students to write letters, present at board meetings, and invite school board members and school administrative staff to their classroom.
• Develop a follow-up plan to encourage continued discussion and implementation of decisions made at school board meetings. Future coordination, presentations, or letters will be needed.
• Laws governing EE curriculum implementation
• The current level of EE curriculum implementation
• Statistics on parental support for EE
• An example letter to request support from parent organizations for EE. The promotional material "EE Works for Wisconsin" should be included.