Green schools advocacy begins in the communities, at the grassroots level, with parents, teachers, students and others making their voices heard on the importance of healthy, environmentally friendly schools that promote learning and save school districts money.
But there is also an important role for national leaders to play. Federal leadership helps fund research on the benefits and best practices of green schools, and it sends the message nationwide that green schools are good for everyone.
Congress Takes the Lead
That national view has led to the formation
of the Green Schools Caucus in the House of Representatives. The Green
Schools Caucus, formed by Reps. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Jim Matheson,
D-Utah, aims to raise awareness of the benefits of green schools, lead
the policy discussion on the topic in various forums, create
legislative opportunities for the collective efforts of the caucus
members, and provide members of Congress with constituent outreach
resources. Caucus members and their staff will participate in
educational programs to learn what is going on nationally and in their
districts, including site visits to green schools and educational
panels with teachers, architects and school officials from across the
country.
Learn more about the Congressional Green Schools Caucus.