Environmental Education Act of 1990 By Kaitlyn Bennett

Overview The act was signed into law on November 16, 1990 by congress. It was created to increase public understanding of the current environmental issues. It added the Office of Environmental Education to the Environmental Protection Agency. A great website to find out more information on the act is http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/index.html.

Reason and Goals Congress felt that school age children did not know enough about the environment and the changes in it. The act awards grants for schools that educate elementary and secondary students and provide training for teachers in environmental subjects. It also supports fellowships for post-secondary students and funds other related activities. It wants to promote the following: 1) Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges 2) Knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental challenges 3) Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation to improve or maintain environmental quality 4) Skills to identify and help resolve environmental challenges 5) Participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental challenges

Office of Environmental Education The Act added this new office to the Environmental Protection Agency. One of the jobs of this new office is to “develop and support programs and related efforts, in consultation and coordination with other Federal agencies, to improve understanding of the natural and built environment, and the relationships between humans and their environment”. It also manages the federal grant assistance and decides how it will be used best to further environmental education.

Enforcement of the Act The Environmental Education Advisory Council and Task Force was created to ensure that the office is making progress and using funding effectively. There are 11 advisors on the board that must report to the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Funding It was originally funded by government grants up to $14,000,000 each year until 1996. Now it is mostly funded through contributions made to the National Environmental Education Fund with little government funding. The separation of the funding within the act is as follows: 25 percent for the activities of the Office of Environmental Education, 25 percent for the operation of the environmental education and training program, 38 percent for environmental education grants, 10 percent for support of the National Environmental Education Foundation, and 2 percent for awards.

Sources www.epa.gov/enviroed/whatis.html www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/ENVEDUC.html www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/07Aug/97-97.pdf