WV Sustainable Schools Award Program

About

The West Virginia Sustainable Schools (WVSS) award program is a recognition program for schools that exemplify a commitment to sustainable practices in the facilities as well as integrate those practices into the curriculum and community.  The program recognizes schools where staff, students, officials, and communities have worked together to produce energy efficient, sustainable and healthy school environments and to ensure the sustainability and environmental literacy of graduates.  All public and private schools in West Virginia are invited to apply for this state and national recognition.  The school selected as the highest WVSS award will receive $5,000, and the second place school will receive $1,000 to improve, continue, or extend a part of their Sustainable Schools program.  Schools that receive the WVSS award may be nominated for consideration as a Green Ribbon School.

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Green Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools that save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness, and offer sustainability education to boost academic achievement and community engagement. The recognition award is part of a larger USDE effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about practices proven to result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness, as well as a government-wide aim to increase energy independence and economic security. We are partnering with other state agencies and organizations in the development of the WVSS program. 

Application Process

Applications to receive recognition as a WVSS must be submitted by the deadline below. The WVSS advisory council will review the applications and announce awards. Up to four schools and one county will then be nominated to the USDE for the Green Ribbon School award, which expects to award approximately 50-75 schools with the designation.

You are under no obligation to continue with the application process once you have started it . All schools expressing interest will be contacted individually and offered technical assistance through the application process. View the rubric for scoring questions.

Dates to Remember

  • September: Application window opens.

  • October: WVSTA Conference (WVSS will be in Vendor Area to answer questions).

  • December 1: Application due date.

  • January: WVSS announcement.

  • February: Green Ribbon School nominations due to the USDE.

  • Late spring: Green Ribbon Schools announced.

Awards and Criteria

The school selected as the highest WVSS award will receive $5,000, and the second place school will receive $1,000 to improve, continue, or extend a part of their Sustainable Schools program.

The top awards for the WVSS program will then be nominated to the USDE as US Green Ribbon Schools. These winners are announced on Earth Day each year. Criteria for the WVSS program aligns with the Green Ribbon Schools program so that our winners will be very competitive in the federal program. Below are criteria pillars.

Pillar 1. Environmental and Sustainability Education

  • Interdisciplinary learning about the key relationships between dynamic environmental, energy, and human systems;

  • Authentic use of the environment and sustainability to develop Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) content knowledge and thinking skills to prepare graduates for the 21st century technology-driven economy; and

  • Development of civic engagement knowledge and skills and increase the application of these as students address sustainability and environmental issues in their communities.

 

Pillar 2. Healthy School Environments

  • An integrated school environmental health program based on an operations and facility-wide environmental management system that considers student, visitor, and staff health and safety in all practices related to design, construction, renovation, operations, and maintenance of schools and grounds; and

  • High standards of nutrition, fitness, and quantity of quality outdoor time for both students and staff.

 

Pillar 3. Environmental Impact and Energy Efficiency

  • Reduced energy use and/or greenhouse gas emissions through the use of an energy audit or emissions inventory and reduction plan, cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, and on-site renewable energy and/or purchase of green power;

  • Improved water quality, efficiency, and conservation;

  • Reduced solid and hazardous waste production through increased recycling, reduced consumption, and improved reduction, management, or elimination of hazardous waste streams; and

  • Expanded use of alternative transportation to, during, and from school through active promotion of locally-available, energy-efficient options and implementation of alternative transportation supportive projects and policies.

Question About the Program?

All schools interested in being recognized as a WV Sustainable School should contact PK-12 Academic Support Coordinator Rachel Eades. 

Rachel Eades-Gill headshot

Rachel Eades

Coordinator
Phone Number: +13045588098
reades@k12.wv.us
Was this page helpful?
This feedback is reviewed monthly to help us improve our site. For immediate assistance please refer to our employee directory.
Optionally, please provide your contact information so that we may reach out to you for more information.
Contact info

This feedback is reviewed regularly to help us improve our site. For immediate service and support please refer to our employee directory.