Established in February 2016, OSSE’s Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre is a group of individuals from public and public charter schools across the District who are responsible for developing a plan to implement the Environmental Literacy Framework at their schools and coordinating its implementation.
Who: The Leadership Cadre is a cohort of schools that works with OSSE’s environmental literacy program. OSSE selects school-based educators, with each participating school having a maximum of two educators in the Leadership Cadre. Selection criteria includes (a) teaching experience; (b) grade levels taught; (c) subject matter expertise; (d) letter of recommendation from administration; and (e) writing sample. In addition, individuals are selected to serve as mentors. Mentors have expertise and guidance in developing school-based environmental literacy programs.
What: The Leadership Cadre, in partnership with OSSE, has met to (a) receive comprehensive professional development related to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), (b) develop a school-based environmental literacy program to implement student-driven, place-based projects that use the school building and grounds as teaching tools, (c) network with others to discuss creating systems of support for environmental literacy implementation in schools; and (d) disseminate information about environmental literacy to their community and garner feedback on the school-based environmental literacy program.
Outcomes: By bringing together local expertise, OSSE will understand how to better integrate environmental literacy into school curricula and provide rich experiences to students that will lead to improved academic performance of students.
Alumni schools: Four cohorts of schools have participated in the leadership cadre and are featured in these snapshots.
Update: OSSE has suspended the Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre for fiscal year 2025. This decision is part of the efforts to plan a new technical assistance offering, which will launch in fiscal year 2026. The pause will enable us to develop a long-term impact strategy that will include a new professional development opportunity. This upcoming initiative will aim to integrate and align environmental literacy across school programs, practices and curricula more effectively.
Related Content
- Environmental Literacy Leadership Cadre Alumni Schools
- Environmental Literacy Framework
- Sample School-Based Environmental Literacy Plans
For more information or questions, please contact Grace Manubay at (202) 654-6116 or [email protected].