MEDIA RELEASE

Public and private schools may enter the inaugural Green Ribbon Schools competition by completing Hawaii’s online application at hawaiidoe.org.

The U.S. Department of Education announced its new Green Ribbon Schools competition in September 2011. Schools will apply to Hawaii DOE, which in turn will nominate four schools for national recognition. At least one of the schools will be a private school.

The deadline for schools to submit their applications to Hawaii DOE is Feb. 10, 2012. Hawaii’s nominees will be submitted to the U.S. DOE in March 2012.

Hawaii has joined 32 other states, D.C., and the Bureau of Indian Education Department of the Interior in this year’s U.S. DOE Green Ribbon Schools competition. It will honor public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that show progress in minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, positively affecting student and staff health, and producing students who are environmentally and sustainability literate.

The U.S. DOE’s objective is to recognize and share best practices in these areas.

The Green Ribbon Schools recognition award is part of a larger U.S. DOE effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best 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.

For additional information, visit www.hawaiidoe.org

Questions may be directed to Randy Moore, assistant superintendent, DOE Office of School Facilities and Support Services, at 586-3444 or Jenna Ishii (jenna@hais.org), Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, at 973-1538.