‘‘(B) advance the teaching of interdiscipli-
nary courses that integrate the study of nat-
ural, social, and economic systems and that in-
clude strong field components. 
‘‘(4) Designing programs to prepare teachers at 
a school to provide mentoring and professional devel-
opment to other teachers at such school to improve 
teacher environmental education content knowledge 
and pedagogical skills. 
‘‘(5) Establishing and operating programs to 
bring teachers and students into contact with work-
ing professionals in environmental fields to deepen 
such teachers’ knowledge of environmental content 
and research practices. 
‘‘(6) Creating initiatives that seek to incor-
porate environmental education within teacher train-
ing programs or accreditation standards consistent 
with the State environmental literacy plan. 
‘‘(7) Promoting the integration of outdoor envi-
ronmental education lessons into the regular school 
curriculum and schedule in order to further the 
knowledge and professional development of teachers 
and help students directly experience nature. 
‘‘(i) EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:51 Feb 19, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H882.IH
H882
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible partnership 
receiving a subgrant under this section shall develop 
an evaluation and accountability plan for activities 
assisted under this section that includes rigorous ob-
jectives that measure the impact of such activities. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The plan developed under 
paragraph (1) shall include measurable objectives to 
increase the number of teachers who participate in 
environmental education content-based professional 
development activities. 
‘‘(j) REPORT BY ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIPS.—Each 
eligible partnership receiving a subgrant under this section 
shall report annually, for each year of the subgrant, to 
the State educational agency regarding the eligible part-
nership’s progress in meeting the objectives described in 
the accountability plan of the eligible partnership under 
subsection (i). 
‘‘SEC. 5623. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT PRO-
GRAM TO HELP BUILD NATIONAL CAPACITY. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
‘‘(1) to strengthen environmental education as 
an integral part of the elementary school and sec-
ondary school curriculum; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:51 Feb 19, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H882.IH
H882
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) to disseminate information about best 
practices and resources available to support environ-
mental literacy programs. 
‘‘(b) GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized 
to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
partnerships to enable the eligible partnerships to 
pay the Federal share of the costs of activities under 
this section. 
‘‘(2) DURATION.—Each grant under this sec-
tion shall be for a period of not less than 1 year and 
not more than 3 years. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
partnerships that include a high-need local edu-
cational agency. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—Each eligible partnership desir-
ing a grant under this section shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application that contains— 
‘‘(1) a plan to initiate, expand, or improve envi-
ronmental education programs in order to make 
progress toward— 
‘‘(A) challenging State academic content 
standards and student academic achievement 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:59 Feb 19, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H882.IH
H882
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
standards in environmental education, to the 
extent such standards exist; and 
‘‘(B) meeting academic standards that are 
aligned with the State’s environmental literacy 
plan; and 
‘‘(2) an evaluation and accountability plan for 
activities assisted under this section that includes 
rigorous objectives that measure the impact of ac-
tivities funded under this section. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—Grant funds made available 
under this section shall be used for 1 or more of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Developing and implementing State cur-
riculum frameworks for environmental education 
that meet— 
‘‘(A) challenging State academic content 
standards and student academic achievement 
standards for environmental education, to the 
extent such standards exist; and 
‘‘(B) academic standards that are aligned 
with the State’s environmental literacy plan 
under section 5622. 
‘‘(2) Replicating or disseminating information 
about proven and tested model environmental edu-
cation programs that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:59 Feb 19, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H882.IH
H882
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) use the environment as an integrating 
theme or content throughout the curriculum; or 
‘‘(B) provide integrated, interdisciplinary 
instruction about natural, social, and economic 
systems along with field experience that pro-
vides students with opportunities to directly ex-
perience nature in ways designed to improve 
students’ overall academic performance, per-
sonal health (including addressing child obesity 
issues), and understanding of nature. 
‘‘(3) Developing and implementing new ap-
proaches to advancing environmental education, and 
to advancing the adoption and use of environmental 
education content standards, at the State and local 
levels. 
‘‘(e) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP REPORT.—In order to 
continue receiving grant funds under this section after the 
first year of a multiyear grant under this section, the eligi-
ble partnership shall submit to the Secretary an annual 
report that— 
‘‘(1) describes the activities assisted under this 
section that were conducted during the preceding 
year; 
‘‘(2) demonstrates that progress has been made 
in helping schools to meet the State academic stand-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:51 Feb 19, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H882.IH
H882
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS