WEST CHESTER (January 25) – State Senator Andy Dinniman would like to remind school officials and students that there is less than one month to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for an opportunity to become a “Green Ribbon” school.
The state agency will review all the applications it receives from public and private schools and nominate up to four schools to the U.S. Department of Education, which in turn will award the “Green Ribbon” school designation to the school or schools in each state that best exemplify “achievement in environmental impact, health and education.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, such schools “save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness, and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement.”
Applications are available at www.pathwaystogreenschools.org and must be received by the Pennsylvania Department of Education by Thursday, Feb. 23. Those with specific questions about the application or for guidance filling it out may contact Janet Milkman at the Delaware Valley Green Building Council at jmilkman@dvgbc.org.
“Just as the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes academic achievement in our schools, the Green Ribbon Schools Program recognizes environmental awareness and action, and I urge all schools to let the Commonwealth and federal government know what they are doing to save taxpayer money and help conserve our natural resources,” Dinniman said.
For more information contact Senator Dinniman’s West Chester Office at (610) 692-2112, or e-mail mindars@pasenate.com.