Thank you for your interest in completing the Pennsylvania Department of Education application for nomination to U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS), District Sustainability Award, or Postsecondary Sustainability Award. ED-GRS recognizes schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions taking a comprehensive approach to sustainability, incorporating environmental learning with improving environmental and health impacts.
Becoming a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, District Sustainability Awardee, or Postsecondary Sustainability Awardee is a multi-step process. The first step is to complete and submit this form to be selected as a nominee by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The application process requires signatures certifying compliance with all applicable civil rights, Federal Student Aid, health, safety, and environmental statutory and regulatory requirements. You may view the certifications that you will be asked to make in the Nominee Presentation Forms. The forms are also available on the Pathways to Green Schools website.
Finally, if your institution is selected by PDE, your nomination materials, including the signed Nominee Presentation Form, documentation of progress in all areas of the award, and photographs, will be sent to the U.S. Department of Education (ED). PDE will recognize the national selectees in the summer of 2022. The U.S. Department of Education notifies national selectees in the spring, inviting them to send representatives to attend a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in the fall. Selection is based on documentation of the nominee’s progress in the three ED-GRS Pillars:
Pillar I: Reducing environmental impact and costs;
Pillar II: Improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and
Pillar III: Offering effective environmental and sustainability education.
Schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions demonstrating progress in every area will receive highest scores. It may help to assemble a team with expertise across these areas to complete the application.
The PDE Pathways to Green Schools – Application webpage provides a checklist to ensure you don’t miss any steps. You may also wish to consult Green Strides for resources related to each Pillar.
Please submit completed application via the online form (continue below). Access a sample application for use in your submittal preparation. Note: Once you enter the online form you must complete the application, there is no save and return option.
Applications and supplemental documents are due by to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) by 6:00 PM, January 17, 2025.
Submit supplemental documents (Nominee Presentation Form and Photos) via email to TPeffer@pa.gov, no later than 6:00 PM January 17, 2025.
PDE will convene a panel to review the applications and send nominations to the U.S. DOE GRS program no later than February 12, 2025 and of high enough resolution that they can be used both online and in print.
