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as the District of Columbia and the U . S . Department of Defense Education Activity that are expected to nominate schools and districts for federal recognition this year . Continued participation and leadership in the program is a recommendation of Torlakson ’ s Environmental Literacy Task Force .

The U . S . Department of Education will confirm state nominees . Details on each California nominee are below .

California ’ s ED-GRS nominees

• Jack London Community Day School : At Jack London Community Day School , sustainability is not only about the environment , it ’ s about empowering students to become positive agents of change through environmental citizenship . In 2013 , the school put sustainability principles into action by converting an 18,000-squarefoot asphalt parking lot on campus into an edible urban garden for the community . Science and horticulture curriculum are integrated into a single four-year Career Technical Education pathway combining environmental science and sustainable landscaping . And urban horticulture is taught as a way to meet the needs of an increasingly urban environment without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs .

• Monterey Road Elementary School : Monterey Road school programs promote

exercise , positive school climate , sustainability , and garden time – all integrated across the curriculum . The campus was modernized in 2012 and energy use was reduced by 70 percent over the following five years . Monterey Road has also reduced the use of chemical solvents by using microfiber cloths for cleaning . The school began an annual student-led waste audit in January 2015 . All of the students separate lunchtime waste into compost , liquid , recyclable and landfill bins . Students were involved with all steps of the process to design , construct , and maintain the school ’ s Food Forest , which is designed to function like a forest ecosystem with fruit trees , vegetable plants , California natives , herbs , and berries . The Food Forest is used as an outdoor learning space where lessons are taught in connection with the California Next Generation Science Standards .

• Tahoe Truckee USD : Tahoe Truckee Unified has a long history of conservation efforts to reduce energy and water use , dating back to 2002 when the district adopted cool-roof standards . The district ’ s first green building project was Alder Creek Middle School , which received Collaborative for High Performance Schools verification in 2005 . All current projects are designed to LEED Silver standards . A “ Farm-to- School ” district , salad bars utilizing locally-grown produce are located at all sites . Since 2006 , TTUSD has implemented the Harvest of the Month program , which features California-grown produce for the purpose of engaging students in the world of agriculture and nutrition .

• Top of the World Elementary School : Top of the World Elementary , nestled in the hills of Laguna Beach , has always had a focus on developing environmentally and socially conscious students by providing opportunities for them to make positive impacts locally and globally . There are three onsite gardens used as outdoor classroom spaces , an 18-foot geodesic dome greenhouse , and outdoor cooking stations . During the 2016-17 school year , students spent a combined 10,000 hours learning outdoors . Top of the World uses digital devices and do many assignments online to save paper . PTA , principal , and district announcements are all sent digitally , reducing paper waste . Students also use the solar power generated from a solar array on the shed roof to power a blender and make smoothies and collect weather data for analysis through a school-wide Weather- Bug system on building roofs .

California Green Ribbon School additional awardees

Public Schools :

• Alameda Science and Technology Institute , Alameda Unified ( Gold )

• Lincoln Middle , Alameda Unified ( Gold )

• Rancho Vista High , Temecula Valley Unified ( Gold )

• Palos Verdes High , Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified ( Gold )

• Anderson W . Clark Magnet High , Glendale Unified ( Silver )

• Carrisa Plains Elementary , Atascadero Unified ( Silver )

• Georgia Morris Elementary , Rialto Unified ( Silver )

• Meiners Oaks Elementary , Ojai Unified ( Silver )

• Milor Continuation High , Rialto Unified ( Silver )

• Nick G . Parras Middle , Redondo Beach Unified ( Silver )

• North Ridge Elementary , Moreno Valley Unified ( Silver )

• Paloma Elementary , Temecula Valley Unified ( Silver )

• Sunset K-8 School , Ventura Unified ( Silver )

• Ysabel Barnett Elementary , Temecula Valley Unified ( Silver )

• Center Street Elementary , El Segundo Unified ( Bronze )

• Foothill Middle , Mt . Diablo Unified ( Bronze )

• Kimbark Elementary , San Bernardino City Unified ( Bronze )

Districts :

• Monterey Peninsula Unified , Monterey County ( Gold )

• Rialto Unified , San Bernardino County ( Gold )

• San Carlos Elementary , San Mateo County ( Gold )

• Chaffey Joint Union High , San Bernardino County ( Bronze )

• Moreno Valley Unified , Riverside County ( Bronze )

• San Mateo County Office of Education ( Bronze )