News and Updates

Support the No Child Left Inside Legislation

Summer Congressional Recess: Both chambers of Congress will be in recess until after Labor Day. This break provides a terrific opportunity for you to meet with your Representatives to tell them why you support NCLI. Members of Congress need to hear from YOU, the folks in their home states and districts who support the inclusion of NCLI in the reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Here are some things you can do bolster support for NCLI during August.

Call the offices of your own members of Congress to schedule a face-to-face meeting. During the meeting, explain why you are a member of the NCLI Coalition and urge your delegates to co-sponsor and support NCLI. You can download a legislative fact sheet to leave behind.
If your representative already co-sponsors NCLI, send an email or letter to express your thanks for their support and ask that they continue to make this issue a priority. For a list of current co-sponsors from California, see NCLI Coalition Members in California.
Invite your representatives to visit model programs that highlight the tremendous benefits of high quality environmental and outdoor education.
Attend any public appearances that your representative may be making and use the opportunity to talk about the importance of the NCLI Act to improving PreK-12 education and environmental stewardship.

The U.S. Department of Education is working on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (aka No Child Left Behind). There are efforts underway to ensure that the bill includes provisions for pre-K through grade 12 environmental and outdoor education as outlined in the No Child Left Inside Act, sponsored by Senator Reed and Congressman Sarbanes.

NCLI formed in 2006 and has come along way in just a few years. However, the real work in support of environmental and outdoor education is still ahead. We want to ensure that all of our nation's students graduate from high school as environmentally literate students who are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century but it is going to take each and every one of us.

Additional information:

Join the hundreds of organizations and agencies who have signed on as Coalition members. See current list of California Coalition Members and Congressional Support: NCLI Coalition Members in California. Updated 8/17/10

Visit the No Child Left Inside website for further updates and information.

A Blueprint for Reform
The Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

The United States Department of Education issued A Blueprint for Reform in March 2010. It outlines President Obama's vision for a world-class education. The very exciting news for EE professionals is that Environmental Education has been included in the blueprint. Please refer to pages 25 and 28 to see environmental education listed as a content area necessary in order to provide students with A Complete and Well-Rounded Education.

Our collective voice is being heard across the country and I encourage you to continue your support of environmental education for all students.

Air: The Search for One Clean Breath

Since its premiere in 2008, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District film, Air - The Search for One Clean Breath has been screened worldwide for hundreds of thousands of viewers. Now you can download here the new Educator’s Guide for middle and high school instructors. It is an innovative way to increase the film’s reach and educate students about this precious natural resource.

The Educator’s Guide, and accompanying nine classroom lessons, will enable students to not only see the film, but understand more about air quality by expanding upon the material presented in the film. The project was directed by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District’s public information division. It was coordinated by the CREEC Network and written and field-tested by California teachers.

Best Practices in Environmental Education Programs
A Self-Reflection Tool for Environmental Education Providers

In order to enhance the quality of environmental education (EE) programs, the California Environmental Education Foundation (CEEF) has developed a user-friendly Self-Reflection Tool intended to enhance the use of best practices by formal and nonformal EE providers. The five programmatic Core Practices and the associated outputs necessary to achieve the practices, are primarily derived from the NAAEE Nonformal EE Programs: Guidelines for Excellence (2004).

While many EE providers strive to achieve 100% efficiency on each of the outputs, the main intention of offering this easily applied rubric is to encourage a voluntary self-reflection to determine where a program is along a continuum of programmatic development and efficacy, and thereby identify program practices that could be improved.

Please take the survey today at CEEF Self Reflection Tool. Thank you for your assistance.