The Green Ribbon Act of 2023 is a federal education program designed to help schools become more environmentally sustainable and teach students about environmental issues. The program focuses on three main goals: making sure all graduates understand environmental health and can take action to protect the environment, reducing a school's carbon footprint and environmental impact through changes to buildings and operations, and ensuring the school environment supports the health and wellness of students and staff.

The Department of Education will award grants to state education agencies (typically $250,000 to $1,000,000 per state) to help schools work toward these goals. States must spend at least 40 percent of their grant money supporting schools that are under-resourced or serve low-income communities. Schools that excel in all three areas can earn a Green Ribbon School award and receive $10,000. The bill also creates a similar program for museums, libraries, zoos, and other public learning institutions through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

To support this work, the bill establishes a new Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Department of Education with three full-time staff members. This office will provide technical assistance to schools and districts on green building practices, help coordinate with other federal agencies, and share best practices for sustainable school facilities. The bill authorizes $10 million annually through 2029 to fund the program, plus an additional $2 million for the new office. Essentially, this bill puts federal resources behind helping schools reduce their environmental impact while teaching students to be environmentally responsible citizens.

Green Ribbon Act of 2023

Booker, Cory A.

Green Ribbon Act of 2023This bill provides statutory authority for and expands the Department of Education’s (ED’s) Green Ribbon Schools program. (This program was established in 2011 to recognize early learning centers, schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions for excellence in reducing environmental impact, increasing health and wellness, and providing sustainability education.)In conducting the Green Ribbon Schools program, ED must (1) reserve funding for the Department of the Interior to carry out activities with respect to schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education; (2) award grants to state educational agencies for the purpose of supporting and engaging eligible entities as green schools; and (3) provide an honorarium to each award winner, subject to appropriations.The bill directs the Institute of Museum and Library Services to establish an award program for nonformal learning institutions (e.g., libraries, museums, and zoos) that is modeled on ED’s program.The bill also establishes within ED the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability.