In accordance with the Governor’s Proclamation 20-25, “Stay Home, Stay Healthy,” and to protect the health and safety of Washingtonians and our employees, at this time, there is restricted public access to the OSPI building. OSPI will continue serving the public via phone, email, and the website.
See OSPI’s COVID-19 guidance and resources for educators, students, and families.
Washington State 2019 Green School Leader Awardees:
The U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools Program celebrates schools and districts making significant progress towards:
Schools and districts complete an online application. A state committee scores completed applications. The state may nominate up to five schools or districts. Public and private schools are eligible to apply. The state committee also selects schools and districts that excel in one or more of the pillars as Washington State Green School and District leaders.
Schools can answer the application with data and information based on the 2017-2020 school years - information is not required to be from facilities for the 2020-2021 school year. In fact, most schools and districts that receive the award do so by demonstrating systemic and sustained practices. We do not want remote learning and closed school facilities to be a barrier to your application. Please contact us with any questions about accommodations due to the pandemic.
For more information, please contact Washington's program coordinator Elizabeth Schmitz.
OSPI forwards state finalists to the U.S. Department of Education (ED). ED chooses national award recipients from this group.
Washington applications are open for the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools (GRS) Recognition Program. Applications are due January 8, 2021. For more information, or technical assistance please contact Washington's program coordinator Elizabeth Schmitz.
Public, private schools and public districts are eligible.
State finalists and national award recipients may attend several statewide events, will receive an award, and join a state team of green leaders. ED invites national award recipients to a ceremony in Washington DC.
The Green Ribbon Schools program is ambitious. You should apply if you meet some benchmarks and are making significant progress towards meeting others. There are two levels of awards: the National Green Ribbon Schools Award program and the state Green Leader awards. If you do not meet all the benchmarks for the Green Ribbon Schools award, you may still be eligible for the Washington State Green Leader award.
The 2015 US ED Green Ribbon Schools Awardee, Discovery Elementary, conducted a study and outlined their path to minimizing waste in their school.
For more information, please contact Washington's program coordinator Elizabeth Schmitz.
