Green Ribbon Act of 2023

To strengthen and expand the Green Ribbon Schools Program at the Department of Education by boosting the capacity of participating States to expand the number of engaged schools, applicants, and nominees, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Green Ribbon Act of 2023 2. Green Ribbon Schools Program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) ESEA definitions The terms elementary school local educational agency secondary school Secretary State educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (3) Environmentally literate The term environmentally literate (A) perceive and interpret the relative health of environmental systems and the interrelationships between natural, economic, and social systems and technology; and (B) assess options and take appropriate action to maintain, restore, or improve the health of the environmental systems and promote sustainable development. (4) Green Ribbon pillars The term Green Ribbon pillars (A) 100 percent of the graduates of the eligible entity or the schools served by the eligible entity are environmentally literate. (B) The environmental impacts of the eligible entity’s buildings, grounds, and operations are targeting significant emission reductions with a long-term goal of 100 percent reduction. (C) The eligible entity has a net positive impact on the environmental health of its students and staff. (5) Green Ribbon school award winner The term Green Ribbon School award winner (6) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (b) Green Ribbon School Program of the Department of Education (1) In general The Secretary shall conduct a program, which shall be known as the Green Ribbon Schools Program (A) encouraging eligible entities to implement the Green Ribbon pillars; (B) recognizing high performance in the Green Ribbon pillars by eligible entities, through voluntary partnership with States; (C) increasing the number of participating local educational agencies and schools that are receiving resources from the program, including those not pursuing an award on the date of enactment of this Act; (D) engaging with public and private stakeholders to maximize positive impact; and (E) supporting schools in implementing measures to reduce energy and water use and costs, increase resilience, increase environmental literacy, and improve indoor air and other conditions for health and wellness. (2) Update (A) In General Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a review and update the criteria for the Green Ribbon school award winner program, including scoring, which shall include— (i) ensuring that health and wellness criteria align with programs of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are associated with benefitting student health, thinking, and the ability to learn; (ii) ensuring that environmental criteria emphasize the role of schools in mitigating and adapting to climate change, including school resiliency to natural disasters; and (iii) ensuring that environmental and sustainability literacy criteria encourage applicants to identify methods of assessment of student knowledge and skills and set goals for literacy among graduates. (B) Federal Register The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register the final updated criteria for the Green Ribbon school award winner program and shall allow for, and address, any public comments related to the updated criteria. (3) Grants and awards In conducting the Green Ribbon Schools Program, the Secretary shall, from the amounts made available to carry out this Act— (A) reserve not less than $250,000 for the Secretary of Interior to carry out the activities under subsection (c)(7) with respect to schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education; (B) award grants to State educational agencies under subsection (c); and (C) provide an honorarium to each Green Ribbon School award winner in an amount equal to $10,000, subject to appropriations. (4) Studies, research, and surveys The Secretary may conduct studies, research, and surveys to inform the Green Ribbon Schools Program. (5) Green Ribbon school awards Each year, regardless of whether funds are available for the honoraria described in paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall— (A) establish a process through which— (i) State educational agencies may nominate eligible entities for recognition of high performance in making progress toward all 3 of the Green Ribbon pillars; and (ii) the Secretary of the Interior, operating through the Bureau of Indian Education, may nominate eligible entities that are schools operated or funded by the Bureau for such recognition; and (B) award the Green Ribbon School award to nominated eligible entities that the Secretary determines have shown high performance in making progress toward all 3 of the Green Ribbon pillars. (6) Consultation The Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to align the Green Ribbon Schools Program with the science on school environments and school health cited by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (7) Reports (A) Annual reports (i) In general Not later than November 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall publish a report describing the Green Ribbon Schools Program of the prior fiscal year. (ii) Content of annual reports Each annual report described in clause (i) shall— (I) describe the activities and outcomes of the Department of Education and State grant award winners, including the uses of grant funds to reach and engage additional schools, and the successes and challenges of the Green Ribbon Schools Program; (II) describe the plan of State grant award winners to extend opportunities to become a Green Ribbon School award winner to schools that are eligible to receive funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq. (III) provide a proposed plan for the following year. (B) Biannual reports Not later than November 1, 2024, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall publish a report describing key programs and policies of each State in supporting its schools in making progress toward all 3 of the Green Ribbon pillars. (c) State grant program (1) In general The Secretary shall award grants to State educational agencies, on a competitive basis, for the purpose of supporting and engaging eligible entities as green schools. (2) Applications A State educational agency that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, including an assurance that the agency will— (A) expend not less than 40 percent of the grant funds to support underresourced schools; and (B) provide documentation to the Secretary demonstrating compliance with the requirement under subparagraph (A). (3) Criteria In selecting grant recipients under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the State educational agency’s proposed program or program expansion in terms of— (A) the projected impact and proposed impact metrics; (B) the incorporation of specific activities to ensure underresourced eligible entities benefit and have opportunities to participate; (C) the extent to which stakeholders and partnerships are included; (D) innovative approaches to scaling green school practices and learning; (E) the engagement of past award winners in the program, including as mentors or advisors to other eligible entities; and (F) other criteria as may be identified by the Secretary. (4) Amount of grants In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may determine the amount of each grant award, except that no grant award shall be for an amount that is less than $250,000 nor more than $1,000,000. (5) Time period Grant funds awarded under this subsection shall be available for use by the grant awardee for not more than 3 years. (6) Allowed uses A State educational agency that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to increase and support eligible entities in becoming Green Ribbon School award winners, including by— (A) establishing State-level Green Ribbon awards and recognition events; (B) working in partnership with nonprofit green school organizations and other organizations, utilities, businesses, and other State and local governmental entities to inform, educate, and support eligible entities regarding actions to make progress toward all 3 of the Green Ribbon pillars; (C) using resources from the Department of Education and its green schools partners, as appropriate, to curate and disseminate resources about best green school practices and provide statewide training and professional development in the Green Ribbon pillars; (D) utilizing innovative ways to promote— (i) the implementation of green school practices; and (ii) the Green Ribbon Schools Program and any State-level Green Ribbon schools program; and (E) providing statewide training and professional development in the Green Ribbon pillars. 3. Institute of Museum and Library Services Green Ribbon Award Program (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to develop and implement a Green Ribbon award program for nonformal learning institutions at the Institute of Museum and Library Services in order to recognize and help advance excellence in the greening of nonformal learning institutions. (b) Definition In this section, the term nonformal learning institutions (c) Establishment Consistent with section 209 of the Museum and Library Services Act ( 20 U.S.C. 9107 (1) Ensuring that their visitors are exposed through multiple learning modes to locally relevant information to advance understanding of the interconnection of the natural environment, built environment, and quality of life. (2) Significantly reducing their net environmental and carbon footprints, while using their own built and natural environment as a learning laboratory and a model of best practice for their host community. (3) Ensuring their institution has a net positive environmental impact on visitor and staff health. (d) Award The Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services shall provide each national award winner under this section with an honorarium of $10,000. (e) Consultation The Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services shall consult with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to align the award program under this section with the science on school health studied by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 4. Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Office of the Secretary of Education (a) Establishment There is established within the Office of the Secretary of Education, the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability that shall be composed of 3 full-time employees. (b) Purpose The Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability shall— (1) direct content and programming of a technical assistance center for school infrastructure; (2) liaise with partner Federal agencies that have programs, grants, and equities in school facilities, promote the National Clearinghouse's resources to schools, provide robust technical assistance to partner Federal agencies, local educational agencies, and State educational agencies, and oversee, promote, and expand the recognition award for the Green Ribbon Schools Program; (3) provide technical assistance, training, and, subject to appropriations, grants to State educational agencies and local educational agencies on issues related to educational facility planning, design, financing, construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance, including green building design and operation practices consistent with a commitment to tackling the climate crisis; (4) develop resources and assemble best practices on issues related to ensuring equitable access to healthy, educationally adequate, and environmentally and fiscally sustainable public school facilities and grounds; (5) recommend revisions to regulations of the Department of Education that pertain to school construction and renovation; and (6) consult with Federal agencies to ensure peer-reviewed recommendations and resources are incorporated into the work of the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability. (c) Appropriation There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024. 5. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act (except for section 4) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029. (b) Reservations The Secretary— (1) shall reserve 10 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) to carry out section 3; and (2) may reserve not more than 5 percent of the amount appropriated to carry out this Act for a fiscal year for administrative expenses.

Summary: Green Ribbon Act of 2023This bill provides statutory authority for and expands the Department of Education’s (ED’s) Green Ribbon Schools program. (This program was established in 2011 to recognize early learning centers, schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions for excellence in reducing environmental impact, increasing health and wellness, and providing sustainability education.)In conducting the Green Ribbon Schools program, ED must (1) reserve funding for the Department of the Interior to carry out activities with respect to schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education; (2) award grants to state educational agencies for the purpose of supporting and engaging eligible entities as green schools; and (3) provide an honorarium to each award winner, subject to appropriations.The bill directs the Institute of Museum and Library Services to establish an award program for nonformal learning institutions (e.g., libraries, museums, and zoos) that is modeled on ED’s program.The bill also establishes within ED the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability.