Hawaii Competes in Green Ribbon Environmental Program

By Wendy Osher

Maui Now file photo by Wendy Osher.

The Hawaii State Department of Education joins two dozen other states in the US in participating in a new Green Ribbon Schools competition.

The program recognizes public and private schools that show progress in minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, positively affecting student and staff health, and producing students who are environmentally and sustainability literate.

The objective of the program is to identify and disseminate knowledge about best practices in these areas of environmental awareness.

The Hawaii DOE will disseminate application forms and other information to public and private schools interested in participating.

Schools will apply to Hawaii DOE, which in turn will nominate four schools in the state for national recognition.

The deadline for Hawaii schools to submit applications is in February 2012.

Hawaii already participates in the long-standing Blue Ribbon Schools program, which recognizes public and private schools where students achieve at very high levels and/or where the achievement gap has been narrowed.

***Supporting information courtesy State Department of Education.