Environmental Education Included in Administration’s Plan for Reform
WASHINGTON (March 15) – President Barack Obama has issued a blueprint to overhaul American education. This new version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) recommends guidelines that reward top schools, support teachers, and encourage underperforming schools to shape up.

The administration’s Blueprint for Reform highlights key priorities for a re-envisioned federal role that includes environmental learning as part of a focus on well-rounded education.

National Wildlife Federation, a longstanding advocate for improved U.S. environmental education, believes this new proposal is an exceptional opportunity to improve student achievement through environmental learning, and prepare students for the new clean energy economy.

Studies show that environmentally literate students perform better on standardized tests and are more likely to overcome classroom challenges. While the blueprint acknowledges the important role of environmental education, National Wildlife Federation strongly believes that the education overhaul currently being considered by Congress must include the No Child Left Inside Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman John Sarbanes (D - MD) and Senator Jack Reed (D - RI).

The No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act is listed as one of four key pieces of legislation in the reauthorized ESEA on the U.S. House of Representative’s Education and Labor Committee website. NCLI will ensure that children are environmentally literate when they graduate from school, preparing America’s future leaders for college and careers in the new clean energy economy.

Environmental education is a significant tool that the United States can use to achieve higher levels of learning, bring underperforming schools up to speed, and engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming.

Kevin Coyle, Vice President of Education and Training at National Wildlife Federation, said today:

“National Wildlife Federation commends President Obama and Secretary Arne Duncan for recognizing the important role of environmental education as part of a well-rounded education in the overhaul of America’s education system. Environmental education will help lead the country away from the economic and environmental crises we face, and provide an opportunity to get the United States back on track toward a competitive workforce and healthier environment.”

“National Wildlife Federation believes that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is an opportunity to address the negative effects of America’s recent ‘indoor childhood’ phenomenon by restoring outdoor time and recess to the school day. Kids spend more than seven hours per day using electronic media, which impacts student achievement and readiness to learn,” Coyle said.

National Wildlife Federation—Inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future. Visit www.nwf.org for more information.

Contacts:
Danielle LeSure, Sr. Legislative Representative, Environmental Education Campaigns, 202-797-6634 or LeSureD@nwf.org
Amanda Cooke, Communications Associate, 703-428-6041 or CookeA@nwf.org
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