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Virginia Department of Education

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Healthy Buildings

Virginia Green Ribbon Schools

This prestigious award is given to select schools across the nation that The U.S. Department of Education (USED) Green Ribbon Schools recognizes as schools that save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness, and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement.

Virginia will participate in the pilot year of the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools recognition program. This voluntary federal program rewards schools that meet criteria in three goals:

1. The school facility (grounds and building) has a "net zero" environmental impact;
2. The school environment has a "net positive" impact on the health and performance of students and staff members; and
3. The school's graduates are environmentally literate.

Beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, the USED will recognize schools where staff, students, officials and communities have worked together to produce energy efficient, sustainable and healthy school environments and to ensure the sustainability and environmental literacy of graduates.

USED information

• USED Green Ribbon Schools main page
• USED award criteria
• USED resources, standards and programs
• USED statutory and regulatory requirements for award eligibility

VDOE Application Materials

• 2011-2012 Virginia Green Ribbon Schools application (Word)
• 2011-2012 Virginia Green Ribbon Schools intent to submit form (Word)
• Also see Superintendent's Memorandum #326-11, December 16, 2011

Information Session Webinars – a two-part informational webinar session was held on January 4 and 17, 2012. 

• January 4, 2012 – Introduction to the Green Ribbon Schools program (PPT)
• January 17, 2012 – Question and Answer Session (PPT)

The recognition award is part of a larger USED effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about practices proven to result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness, as well as a government-wide aim to increase energy independence and economic security.

 

School Year 2011-2012 Timeline
September 2011	USED posts criteria and other selection infrastructure.
November 2011	VDOE notifies USED of interest and develops our state application and review process and materials, in partnership with community and state agency partners, in accordance with USED eligibility requirements.
December 2011	VDOE issues school application and guidelines for soliciting and selecting nominees for submission to USED.
January 2012	Information Session Webinars – a two-part informational webinar session will be held on January 4 and January 17, 2012.
January 12, 2012	Intent to submit forms due to the VDOE.
February 21, 2012	Deadline for schools to submit application to the VDOE for nomination.
February - March 2012	VDOE convenes review committee to review applications against eligibility requirements and USED criteria.
March 22, 2012	Review committee selects and submits up to 4 nominees to USED for the Green Ribbon Schools recognition award.
April 2012	USED verifies that nominees meet eligibility requirements and have been evaluated against USED criteria. USED, with assistance from EPA, then reviews and rates schools based on eligibility criteria.
May 2012	USED hosts recognition award ceremony.

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