c/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Communications,
Education, and Media Relations
(1707)
EPA-171-F-98-002
March 1998
Programs and Partnerships
Office of Environmental Education
Mission:
Introduction
The National Environmental Education Act of 1990
requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to provide national leadership to increase
environmental literacy. The Act encourages partnerships
and builds upon long-standing environmental education
(EE) efforts conducted by federal and state agencies,
education institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and
the private sector. The following summarizes the
programs and partnerships that EPA's Office of
Environmental Education (OEE) has established to
implement the Act.
Grants
Each year EPA awards more than 200 grants worth between $2 to $3 million to support quality
EE projects throughout the U.S. Since 1992, EPA has awarded more than 1,500 grants worth
approximately $16 million to schools and
universities; state, local, and tribal education
agencies; and not-for-profit organizations in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
and other U.S. territories.
To advance and support education efforts
that develop an environmentally conscious
and responsible public and inspire personal
responsibility in caring for the environment.
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The vast majority of awards are made by EPA's
ten regional offices for grants of up to $25,000,
especially for grants of $5,000 or less. EPA's
priorities for funding in fiscal year (FY) 1998 are
for projects that educate teachers, students, and
community leaders about threats posed to human
health by pollution; build state, local, or tribal
capacity and/or use EE to advance state, local, or tribal goals for education reform; educate the
public through community-based programs; improve teaching skills; educate low-income and
culturally diverse audiences; or promote environmental careers.
Training for Education Professionals
EPA has awarded a multi-year cooperative agreement to a consortium of universities and
non-profit organizations to deliver training and related support to education professionals
nationwide. In 1992, EPA initiated this training program with a three-year, $5.4 million award
to a consortium of universities and not-for-profit organizations led by the University of Michigan.
Under this initial phase of the program, the consortium supported in-service training for K-12th
grade teachers by developing resource materials, establishing an electronic database of EE
information and education materials, and conducting training workshops.
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In September 1995, EPA initiated the second phase of
this program with a five-year, $9 million award to a
consortium led by the North American Association for
Environmental Education. This program is called the
Environmental Education and Training Partnership and
includes partners such as Project Learning Tree, Project
WILD, and Project WET as well as several universities
and education institutions. This phase builds upon the
work initiated by the University of Michigan consortium
and focuses on:
• delivering training to education professionals
through existing programs;
• improving access to quality EE materials by
expanding links between EE databases and by
developing and disseminating EE guidelines; and
• sustaining long-term training efforts by strengthening
partnerships and building state-level capacity.
The consortium places special emphasis on tying EE to
state and local goals for education reform and reaching
traditionally underserved education professionals (e.g.,
nonformal educators, high school teachers, and educators
who work with low-income and culturally diverse
audiences).
Goals:
Expand communication and partnerships
Educate youth to protect the environment
Promote environmental careers
Educate the adult public to increase
environmental literacy
Bridge international boundaries
College Fellowships
The National Network for Environmental Management
Studies (NNEMS) is a fellowship program that encourages
college students to pursue environmental professions
by offering them the opportunity to gain a valuable
Programs and Activities:
Grants
Training for education professionals
College fellowships
Tribal scholarships
Youth awards
Linkages with internal and external
experts and programs
educational experience while conducting an environmental
research project. The program reaches more than 100
students annually at more than 400 participating
universities. Each year, EPA managers and scientists
design new projects based on EPA's priorities. In a field
of more than 1,000 organizations, NNEMS continues to
be named "One of America's Top 100 Internships" by
the Princeton Review.
Youth Awards
The President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA)
program recognizes young people across America for
projects that demonstrate their commitment to environ-
mental protection. PEYA nominees receive certificates
from the EPA regional office that serves the community
in which the project takes place. In addition, one
nominee from each region becomes a national winner
honored by EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Linkages with Internal and
External EE Experts and Programs
The Act establishes an external advisory council and a
federal task force as well as a public-private foundation as
mechanisms to help EPA develop lasting partnerships,
leverage resources, and obtain advice from EE experts
inside and outside of the federal government. EPA has
also established an internal advisory board to facilitate
communication and collaboration across EPA. These
groups are described in greater detail below.
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National Environmental Education Advisory Council
EPA Environmental Education Advisory Board
The National Environmental Education Advisory
Council is comprised of representatives from
organizations outside of the federal government who
provide EPA with advice on EPA's implementation of
the Act. The 11-member Council also provides EPA
with important linkages to schools, universities, state
departments of education and natural resources,
not-for-profit organizations, and business and industry.
The Council reports to Congress on the status of EE in
the U.S., makes recommendations for improving these
efforts, and works with EPA to implement these
recommendations.
Federal Task Force on Environmental Education
The Federal Task Force on Environmental Education
facilitates communication and collaboration among
federal agencies and departments who have common
interests in supporting and implementing EE programs.
The Task Force places emphasis on supporting joint
interagency EE projects that leverage both federal and
non-federal dollars. Members include the U.S.
Departments of Education, Interior, Agriculture, and
Energy as well as the National Aeronautics & Space
Administration, die National Science Foundation, and
the Peace Corps. EPA serves as chair of die Task Force.
The EPA Environmental Education Advisory Board
provides leadership for EE and facilitates communication
and collaboration across EPA. The 28-member Board
represents EPA's Headquarters offices that implement
EPA's air and radiation, water, solid and hazardous
waste, education, environmental justice, and other
program areas as well as EPA's regional offices and
research laboratories across the country. The Board
includes an Executive Committee of Regional
Administrators. It places emphasis on providing
leadership within EPA, improving the quality of and
public access to EPA educational resources, enhancing
communication widiin EPA, and supporting state-level
EE programs.
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation
The Act also established the National Environmental
Education and Training Foundation (NEETF) to
encourage public-private partnerships in support of
environmental education and to complement EPA s
environmental education efforts. NEETF awards
one-year challenge grants in amounts ranging from
$5,000 to $40,000. NEETF also has initiated programs
in Environmental Healdi, Business and the Environment,
Volunteerism in Natural Resource Management, and
Educational Achievement in die Classroom.
For additional information,
call (202) 260-4965 or (202) 260-6819 (grants only)
Or visit the WMd Wide Web at
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed (available summer 1998)
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