National Environmental Education Advancement Project  

Components of State-Level Comprehensive
Environmental Education Program:

Definitions of Components (1998)

(as developed for the 1998 Survey of the Status of EE in the U.S.)

(Not all components are necessary to have in place for a comprehensive EE program.  The prioritization of components and how they are achieved varies from state to state.  Ultimately, comprehensive EE programs involve a majority of the components listed.)

I.  Program Components

State Master Plan

A comprehensive state plan whose purpose is to chart a course of action and provide an implementation schedule for meeting state goals for EE. These plans set forth the goals and objectives for EE within the state and typically list who is best suited to achieve or implement these goals and objectives (e.g. the legislature, the business community, school administrators, etc.). They are created through input from a wide range of EE leaders, educators, legislators, state agency representatives, business representatives, and others.

State EE Association (or other EE Capacity Building Organization) Strategic Action Plan

A written plan that identifies an organization's vision, mission, goals, and strategies. Some goals and objectives in a state EE association strategic action pan may relate to achieving comprehensive EE programs at the state level. Strategic action plans may also list timelines, budgets, and persons responsible for meeting objectives.

Regular Strategic Planning Meetings/Retreats

Meetings or retreats which occur at least once or periodically throughout the year, where EE organization leaders work together to develop, evaluate and /or enhance the organization's strategic plan and board and organizational development.

Coordinated Statewide Teacher In-service Training in EE

Teacher training that targets K-12 teachers and enables them to become fully competent to teach to all of the goals of EE. A coordinated system of in-service programs that makes EE training available to all teachers within a state and allows for professional development options in EE as well as credits to maintain teaching certification.

Required EE Teacher Training Prior to Teacher Certification or Licensing

EE pre-service training required for teachers desiring to teach certain subjects or grade levels that provides instruction in and ensures competencies in environmental/ecological concepts, the range of instructional and assessment methodologies used with EE and effective approaches for infusing or inserting EE into the curriculum.

Training (in EE and Current Education Reform Strategies) for Those Who Provide EE Professional Development to Teachers

Workshop/sessions for nonformal educators (who provide EE training to teachers) to increase knowledge and skills in EE content and methodology, and/or understanding of current education reform strategies and issues.

Workshops or sessions might include training on: pedagogy, educational buzzwords, state learning standards, student assessment, and connecting to schools and environmental education resources.

EE Training for Those who Provide EE Professional Development to Nonformal Educators

Workshop/sessions for nonformal educators to increase knowledge and skills in EE content and methodology, and/or understanding of current education reform strategies and issues. Workshops or sessions may include training on: pedagogy, educational buzzwords, state learning standards, student assessment, and connecting to schools and environmental education resources.

EE Training for University Faculty and/or Formal Educators who Provide EE Training to Teachers

Opportunities for faculty and/or formal educators who provide EE training to teachers, to increase their knowledge and skills in EE content and methodology, and/or understanding of current education reform strategies and issues.

State-wide Annual EE Conference

Annual multi-day gathering, organized to: 1) promote EE within a state, and 2) address the needs of EE professional within the state. Examples of activities include: workshops on research, teaching methods and curriculum/program content; field trips; presentations of critical issues; displays; planning meetings, and networking opportunities.

Statewide EE Semi-Annual Workshop/Meetings

Semi-annual event which is typically shorter in length, smaller in numbers, and more informal than statewide conferences. Provides environmental educators throughout a state with the opportunity to network and increase their own knowledge of and skills in EE in a focused and intimate setting. Workshops are often seasonal and provide an in-state theme with one or several related sessions.

State By-law or Requirement for K-12 Environmental Education Instruction

Requirement that school districts and K-12 teachers incorporate EE into their existing curriculum. This component is typically achieved through legislative or administrative avenues.

Environmental Education Learner Objectives/Outcomes

Objectives, Outcomes, Benchmarks, Essential Skills, etc. are intended to assist educators in developing specific instructional plans and assessment strategies for incorporating EE in given subject areas. These help ensure instructional consistency within academic disciplines among the state’s schools and may be exit oriented or lesson oriented. Within many of the states, the EE Learner Outcomes/Objectives, Benchmarks, Essential Skills, etc. are found within the science, geography, and social studies standards.

EE Correlations to State Content Standards

EE correlations identify learner outcomes, objectives, benchmarks, and/or essential skills within state content standards which also meet the goals and objectives of EE. Correlations projects compare state content standards with EE curriculum.

EE Curriculum Guide or other state publication providing direction to the development of an EE program at the school district level

EE Curriculum Guides often include instructional strategies, resource listings and suggestions for developing curriculum. They assist in integrating EE into existing curriculum and helping with curriculum/school restructuring. EE Curriculum/Resource Guides sometimes have units and lessons for use by teachers and school districts.

EE Model or Resource Schools

K-12 schools that have utilized EE as a vehicle for successfully accomplishing school improvement goals. EE model or resource schools are often the "hub" or contact point for other schools/educators seeking EE resources in a district.

State Assessment Program that includes EE

Application of assessment "tools" (including standardized testing, authentic/performance assessment measures and other evaluation methods) to determine the extent to which EE curriculum and instruction is having the desired impact on students.

Statewide Environmental Literacy Assessment

Application of assessment "tools" to determine whether or not K-12 students, college students, and the general public are actually synthesizing and applying environmental knowledge, awareness, and issues and action skills that would qualify them as environmentally literate citizens.

EE Awards/Recognition Program

Rewards or recognition of outstanding teachers, administrators, non-formal educators, school and youth groups, organizational members, and other individuals and groups that have contributed to excellence in the field of EE.

State EE Board or Advisory Council

State EE Boards or Advisory Councils are the policy making and implementation oversight bodies for many state EE programs. EE Boards/Councils include key representatives of sectors/constituencies supporting EE including school teachers and administrators, university and business representatives, legislators, state agency representatives, and leaders from nonprofit conservation organizations.

These entities often oversee implementation of an EE master plan’s recommendations. Further it may also complete assessments of the status of EE statewide, continue to identify needs and set priorities for EE, consult with the Department of Education (or equivalent), Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies and offices about EE program priorities, complete regular reports to the legislature, oversee an EE grants program and solicit funds.

State EE Office

State office and staff with EE responsibilities such as the following: assess the status of environmental literacy; prepare an EE plan; staff the EE grants program; promote and assist in the development of EE learner outcomes; promote and aid in the development of EE preservice and in-service teacher training; cooperate with federal government, agencies and the private sector around EE programs; function as an EE clearinghouse; initiate, develop, implement, evaluate, and market nonformal EE programs; initiate research on EE; and coordinate EE conferences on a periodic basis.

State Level EE Centers and/or Regional Offices

EE Centers whose primary goal is to assist educators and administrators throughout all levels of the education system in the incorporation of EE as required or recommended by the state legislature. Typical services include: in-service EE programs, assistance in infusing EE into district and school curriculum, resource libraries, school networking programs, and EE literacy assessment projects.

Interagency State EE Committee

Committee of state agency representatives (sometimes include Federal agency representatives with state offices) which work to eliminate overlap in EE programs and to leverage their resources for greater impact.

State EE Association

Non-profit, professional grassroots organization whose members typically include teachers, agency and nature center professionals, college students and community educators as well as organizational members such as colleges and universities, school districts, environmental groups, businesses and county, and state and federal agencies. This organization helps support and implement EE programming as well as providing members with networking opportunities, professional development and communication about EE concerns.

State EE Association Office

Office space and staff used exclusively by the state EE association to work towards providing services to EE professional and implementing the organization's strategic plan.

Computerized Networking System for EE Materials and Services

Online computer website that provides educators and EE leaders with access to EE resources, events, funding opportunities and other helpful information.

Comprehensive On-line Database of State EE Practitioners and Resources

Computerized database containing a comprehensive listing of EE resources available and EE practitioners within the state that is available to the general public.

EE Resource Guide (s)

EE resource guides are paper copy documents that feature state EE resources ranging from EE/nature centers and park interpretive facilitates, to environmental related associations and organizations and corporate programs and funders. EE resource guides are typically created by state education agencies with EE offices and state EE associations.

State-wide EE Newsletter

Publication which highlights EE at the state-level, including: EE organizational activities, news about EE initiatives and funding, and listings of events and resources. State EE associations, agencies, interagency collaborative efforts, and private for profit organizations may all distribute statewide EE newsletters.

Funding Sources for EE

Sources of funding to support the state level EE program infrastructure and specific programs, such as an EE grants program. Can be provided by a variety of means such as general revenue, license plate fees, resource user fees, polluter fines, taxes, lotteries and private donations and grants.

State Supported EE Grants Program

Grants program that uses state and/or private sector funds to increase EE programming at the state and local level. EE grants programs are typically overseen by state offices for EE, state EE Boards or Advisory Councils and are accessible to both formal and nonformal education entities for enhancing or creating state and locally based EE projects.

EE Trust Fund EE Trust Fund for raising and supporting EE programs with both public and private dollars for raising and supporting EE programs with both public and private dollars

Mechanism for generating and disbursing financial resources for EE. Trust funds are a permanent fund enabling EE leaders to collect and spend both private (grants and donations) and/or government dollars. Interest dollars can be earned on unspent funds.