The North American Association for Environmental Education released an updated 2014 status report on State Environmental Literacy Plans this week. This report details the current status of environmental literacy plans throughout the U.S., highlighting several states with exemplary plans and providing recommendations for successful plan development.
The report highlighted North Carolina’s successful efforts
to align its environmental literacy plan (ELP) with its statewide plan for environmental education and to integrate environmental education into core
subjects. It also praised the alignment of the literacy plan with educational
priorities in the state, touting the Department of Public Instruction’s efforts
to integrate environmental literacy into its Essential Standards for Science
and Social Studies. “The Department
recognizes that integrating environmental education is important for meeting
state and national standards, while also developing critical thinking and
citizenship skills. Furthermore, the ELP also supports North Carolina’s STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education Strategy’s goals
and key priorities.”
North Carolina's environmental literacy plan has been
developed by the Department of Public Instruction and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with Environmental Educators
of North Carolina, the state professional association for environmental
educators, and the NC Association of Environmental Education Centers, with
additional input from a wide range stakeholders in the education and
environmental communities.Read the full NAAEE report
