Guideline for Greening the School
Issue: Ensuring a Sustainable Future
Target Level of Office: School Board
Policy Name: Rhode Island School as a Tool
Policy Origin: RIDE School Construction Program
Link: www.YEONetwork.org/2013policy/?i=221
Summary Narrative of the Policy: The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is committed
to healthy and sustainable schools through the “Rhode Island School as a Tool Program.” This
program establishes schools that take a comprehensive approach to greening the school by
incorporating environmental learning with improving environmental and health impacts.
Relevant Talking Points & Important Information:
• This “Rhode Island School as a Tool Protocol” Agreement commits the school to a
step-by-step process for a greener, more sustainable campus. This School as a Tool
Agreement establishes a green team of school and community-based shareholders that
will develop the school-wide environmental vision statement and action plan; requires
a school environment survey to collect data on the school’s footprint, including water
quality and conservation, waste production and disposal, recycling, transportation
methods, air quality, physical fitness and outdoor time, and food and nutrition; integrates
an environmental literacy curriculum into existing curriculum; and develops a community
outreach plan.
• By greening, a school commits to saving energy, reducing costs, featuring environmentally
sustainable learning spaces, protecting school community health, fostering community
wellness, and offering environmental education to boost academic achievement and
community engagement. Ultimately, the goals of a green school are to measure and
reduce its ecological footprint while making the school environment healthier for students
and staff, and motivating the community to start thinking about solutions to broader
environmental challenges.
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School Board
Policy
2014 Book