Washington, DC (September 18, 2008)- The Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) is pleased to announce the that the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 (H.R.3036) passed the House today. This bill creates grant programs for schools to form partnerships with nonprofits and other agencies to improve environmental education in the classroom and introduce field experiences for K-12 students. ACT supports the No Child Left Inside Act as the furthest reaching environmental education bill teaching our students about urban forestry in the communities where they live and play. This is a great opportunity for ACT members to expand educational programs and become more involved with the youth in the communities you serve.
House Bill Status:
July 12, 2007- Introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD)
July 12, 2007- Referred to House Education and Labor Committee
July 10, 2008- Placed on House Calendar in preparation for a vote
September 18, 2008- Passed House 293-109
Senate Bill Status:
August 2, 2007- Introduced by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
August 2, 2007- Referred to Senate Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
The No Child Left Inside Act, sponsored by Representative John Sarbanes (MD), offers states incentives to develop Environmental Literacy Plans and integrate environmental education across their K-12 curriculums. It also increases funding for teacher training to ensure that teachers have the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver high quality environmental education. Such curricula would use the local environment as an extension of the classroom. The No Child Left Inside Act would ensure that schools have the resources and training necessary to help the next generation understand and address the challenges of protecting the environment.
ACT has actively advocated for passage of this legislation, working with fellow members of the No Child Left Inside Coalition, a coalition comprised of more than 700 environmental, educational, business, health care, and other organizations from 50 states, representing more than 40 million people.
These bills are in the early stages of legislation. The next step is a vote by the Senate committee on S.1981). ACT encourages all members to contact their Congressional Representatives to ask them for their help in bringing these to a vote and for support of the bills.
The sample letter (linked below), lays out the basics: who you are (a constituent), where your organization is and briefly about your mission supporting environmental education (among their constituents). Simply copy and paste the letter onto your own letterhead and replace bold italicized words with information about your organization.
Related Resources:
No Child Left Inside Act (H.R.3036)
Sample Letter in Support of the No Child Left Inside Act
Find Your Representative
No Child Left Inside Act (S.1981)
NCLI Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
No Child Left Inside Coalition