September 15, 2009

Sustainable Schools Receives EPA Award

We are pleased to announce that the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Education Fund has awarded $26,000 to the Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative (SOSI).

The grant will enable SOSI to increase the capacity of Oregon’s Educational Service Districts to support K-12 education for sustainability with a special focus on how sustainability education can support career and technical education and the state’s economy.

As part of the project, SOSI will engage ESD-formed teams from each of Oregon’s four ESD Zones. Teams will participate in one of four sustainability education workshops and produce a set of work products. A follow-up gathering of all ESD team coordinators will combine the results from the four workshops.

The summarized results will be presented at the 2010 Oregon Association of ESD’s annual conference. The ESD participant teams will be asked to subsequently present their work at their respective ESD Zone meeting for discussion and feedback.

Summary objectives include:

• increase understanding of “education for sustainability.”
• demonstrate how education for sustainability supports job skills, career development and the economy.
• prioritize opportunities for ESDs to provide sustainability education services.

SOSI is pleased to be creating this project together with the Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD.

To become a proud supporter of sustainable schools, please visit the SOSI web site and make a contribution.

For more information about this project or SOSI, please contact Ms. Lori Stole.