Last week, state legislators, educators and USGBC chapter members from Pennsylvania and the surrounding region gathered at the LEED Gold-certified Paradise Elementary School outside Lancaster for a summit to discuss the successes of the green schools movement and to share ways to promote healthy, high-performing schools in their local communities.
Just weeks after the Department of Education released the framework for the Green Ribbon Schools award, 22 states have announced their participation in this voluntary program. From Pennsylvania to California, red to blue, states are realizing the Green Ribbon Schools program is a way to achieve current goals around the improvement of their education systems.
Pennsylvania or Texas? Though those three are certainly out in front, you might be surprised to learn that the leader of the pack is Ohio. Last month I had the opportunity to provide the seven-member Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) – the body that oversees the public school building efforts in our state – with an update on the status of our Green Schools Program.