Jurisdictional Breakout ReportsChesapeake Bay Education Summit

December 16, 2003District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia

MarylandMaryland

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

VirginiaVirginia

District of Columbia

Report from Breakout SessionReport from Breakout Session

DC: Goals• Educate key DCPS administrators about the meaningful bay experience

• Forge a partnership with DCPS integrating bay education into curricula

• Provide a variety of teacher-training opportunities

• Correlate watershed education curriculums to the DCPS Standards for Teaching and Learning

• Provide opportunities for participation in restoration projects

• Develop a Schoolyard Re-greening program

• Engage school-aged youth in a variety of meaningful bay experiences

• Seek new sources of funding

• Provide supplies and resources to teachers

• Develop and maintain a database

Getting teachers out of classroom (having trouble Getting teachers out of classroom (having trouble getting substitute teachers; Stat-9 Testing—getting substitute teachers; Stat-9 Testing—teachers need to be in classroom with students)teachers need to be in classroom with students)

Morale and budget cutsMorale and budget cuts Getting more and different teachers involvedGetting more and different teachers involved Communication through school systemCommunication through school system Early deadlines and many complexities forgetting Early deadlines and many complexities forgetting

students out on field trips.students out on field trips.

DC: Program Challenges

DC: Program Challenges Cont.

Need more teacher training workshopsNeed more teacher training workshops Difficult to get teachers to commit to longer Difficult to get teachers to commit to longer

summer training sessions without stipends.summer training sessions without stipends. Help people recognize how EE programs address Help people recognize how EE programs address

standards.standards. Need to show how EE programs/outdoor Need to show how EE programs/outdoor

experiences are multi-disciplinary and address experiences are multi-disciplinary and address literacy (can address that by providing children’s literacy (can address that by providing children’s literature or lists of lit.).literature or lists of lit.).

DC: What More Can be Done?

Solving problems and developing projects on Solving problems and developing projects on school grounds if students can’t get out to Bay. school grounds if students can’t get out to Bay.

Using computers, other technological means to Using computers, other technological means to connect students to Bay. connect students to Bay.

Help students understand how what they do at Help students understand how what they do at home and school affects their home watershed and home and school affects their home watershed and the Bay.the Bay.

Better, more concentrated outreach to teachers to Better, more concentrated outreach to teachers to alert them of programs.alert them of programs.

DC: What More Can be Done?

Get list of all science teachers and their schoolsGet list of all science teachers and their schools Put flyers in teachers’ mailboxes (rather than Put flyers in teachers’ mailboxes (rather than

through the mail)through the mail) Work through the service learning requirementsWork through the service learning requirements A few schools have an agriculture and natural A few schools have an agriculture and natural

resources academy. Work through them.resources academy. Work through them. Teachers teaching/mentoring teachersTeachers teaching/mentoring teachers

DC: Tracking

Some teachers go to other countries for Some teachers go to other countries for training (through USDA) and come back training (through USDA) and come back and write curriculum. EE providers should and write curriculum. EE providers should work with these teachers.work with these teachers.

Web-based database (GMU has students Web-based database (GMU has students who develop web pages for groups)who develop web pages for groups)

Put Meaningful Bay Exp. Goals on Pacing Put Meaningful Bay Exp. Goals on Pacing ChartsCharts

DC: Where do we Need Extra Help?

Someone to talk to teachers in every schoolSomeone to talk to teachers in every school Superintendent has meeting for principals Superintendent has meeting for principals

and administrators every month. Try to get and administrators every month. Try to get on her agenda.on her agenda.

Explaining to teachers the link between EE Explaining to teachers the link between EE and improved learning and standardsand improved learning and standards

Getting Board of Education to mandate Getting Board of Education to mandate Meaningful Bay Experience.Meaningful Bay Experience.

DC: What do Teachers Need?

To know about programs and what they can To know about programs and what they can provide. Address this by providing provide. Address this by providing pamphlet that defined meaningful Bay pamphlet that defined meaningful Bay experience and a list of provider groups and experience and a list of provider groups and what they do. Get partners to provide what they do. Get partners to provide write-up of what they do.write-up of what they do.

DC: Next Steps

High turnover means we need to reintroduce High turnover means we need to reintroduce ourselvesourselves

Develop timeline to implement suggestionsDevelop timeline to implement suggestions Prioritize stepsPrioritize steps Learn organizational structure of school system and Learn organizational structure of school system and

talk to people at each leveltalk to people at each level Outreach to teachers and administration so they Outreach to teachers and administration so they

know what we’re doingknow what we’re doing Work with other existing programs such as camp at Work with other existing programs such as camp at

CatoctinCatoctin

Maryland

Report of Breakout SessionReport of Breakout Session

Maryland: Goals

High performing, environmentally literate High performing, environmentally literate studentsstudents

At least one MBE for every student in At least one MBE for every student in elementary, middle and high schoolelementary, middle and high school

Prepared teachers with effective Prepared teachers with effective instructional programsinstructional programs

Create schools that implement best Create schools that implement best environmental practicesenvironmental practices

Maryland: Challenges

Identifying gaps as well as overlaps (e.g. Baltimore Identifying gaps as well as overlaps (e.g. Baltimore City)City)

Teachers don’t know about MBE/ Principals don’t Teachers don’t know about MBE/ Principals don’t know about value of MBEknow about value of MBE Better job of marketingBetter job of marketing Individual projects not seen as part of larger Individual projects not seen as part of larger

MBEMBE Classroom component of MBE often lackingClassroom component of MBE often lacking Expanding focus from just Federal $ to state, local Expanding focus from just Federal $ to state, local

and private $and private $

Maryland: Strengths

There are many programs in action There are many programs in action (Summit, MAEOE, etc.)(Summit, MAEOE, etc.)

MD is using the seed money to help MD is using the seed money to help “ignite” programs in the counties“ignite” programs in the counties

MD has infrastructure for field experiencesMD has infrastructure for field experiences MD has infrastructure for student action MD has infrastructure for student action

piecespieces

Maryland: We need help with …

Non-profits: how to fill in gaps with school Non-profits: how to fill in gaps with school programsprograms

Tracking: finding the gaps in program deliveryTracking: finding the gaps in program delivery Improving ChesSIE, marketing ChesSIEImproving ChesSIE, marketing ChesSIE Teachers need peer-reviewed education materials Teachers need peer-reviewed education materials

to know what worksto know what works Marketing - Highlight what MBE would look like, Marketing - Highlight what MBE would look like,

including specific activity optionsincluding specific activity options Searching for funding to fill gapsSearching for funding to fill gaps

Maryland: Next Steps

Keep continued professional developmentKeep continued professional development Marketing MBEMarketing MBE TrackingTracking Quality ControlQuality Control Developing political supportDeveloping political support Matching $ with the right placeMatching $ with the right place

Maryland: Next Steps

Match schools with partnersMatch schools with partners Help groups hook up with schoolsHelp groups hook up with schools More matching state, federal, local and More matching state, federal, local and

private $private $

Pennsylvania

Report from Breakout SessionReport from Breakout Session

Pennsylvania: Goals

Use Standards of Learning to implement the Use Standards of Learning to implement the meaningful Bay experience (MBE)meaningful Bay experience (MBE)

Train facilitators to in turn train teachersTrain facilitators to in turn train teachers Act 48Act 48

Partner with organizations that have Act Partner with organizations that have Act 48 providership48 providership

Pennsylvania: Goals

Teachers write implementation plan for use Teachers write implementation plan for use in classroomin classroom Support it with small grantsSupport it with small grants

Institutionalize Environmental Education Institutionalize Environmental Education track in teacher prep. Programs in track in teacher prep. Programs in UniversitiesUniversities

Pennsylvania: Challenges

Get teachers to take classes out to streamsGet teachers to take classes out to streams Resistance from administration (liability issues)Resistance from administration (liability issues) Some teacher resistanceSome teacher resistance

Make the connection from local to “Bay”Make the connection from local to “Bay” Inverse also a challenge (remember Headwater Inverse also a challenge (remember Headwater

states are part of the watershed)states are part of the watershed) $$!$$! Fitting MBE into an already full curriculumFitting MBE into an already full curriculum

Pennsylvania: Challenges

TrackingTracking Need to sell MBE betterNeed to sell MBE better Perceptions of Environmental EducationPerceptions of Environmental Education

““Warm and fuzzy”Warm and fuzzy” Opposite also true: hostility toward kids Opposite also true: hostility toward kids

of farmers in schoolsof farmers in schools

Pennsylvania: Strengths

Curriculum and standardsCurriculum and standards Current curriculum goes well with MBEsCurrent curriculum goes well with MBEs Standards: Environment and Ecology, Science and Standards: Environment and Ecology, Science and

TechnologyTechnology Funding does existFunding does exist

Strong partnershipsStrong partnerships Mini-grants programsMini-grants programs Growing Greener program ($650 million over 5 years)- Growing Greener program ($650 million over 5 years)-

PA state fundingPA state funding Bay education has attracted attention of state and federal Bay education has attracted attention of state and federal

legislatureslegislatures

Pennsylvania: Strengths

Nature of EE and MBE is conducive to Nature of EE and MBE is conducive to learning and stewardshiplearning and stewardship Formal EE makes us more aware of Formal EE makes us more aware of

environmental issuesenvironmental issues Easy to promote the MBE as an Easy to promote the MBE as an

experiential experienceexperiential experience A lot is already being done (even though A lot is already being done (even though

it’s not all being recorded.)it’s not all being recorded.)

Pennsylvania: Strategy

Resources ($, people)Resources ($, people) Take advantage of existing resourcesTake advantage of existing resources

Tweak, redirect, target already existing fundsTweak, redirect, target already existing fundsMake good use of grant-funded watershed Make good use of grant-funded watershed

restoration projectsrestoration projects Gain additional fundsGain additional funds

Look to private sector for local programsLook to private sector for local programsFederal, state, non-governmentalFederal, state, non-governmental

Harness energy from community retireesHarness energy from community retirees

Pennsylvania: Strategy

CoordinationCoordination Coordinate across programs and Coordinate across programs and

curriculum linescurriculum linesUse master facilitators for coordinationUse master facilitators for coordination

Focus on trackingFocus on tracking

Pennsylvania: Strategy

Packaging: Selling the meaningful Bay experiencePackaging: Selling the meaningful Bay experience Cross-curricular approachCross-curricular approach Tie MBE into existing materials/ standardsTie MBE into existing materials/ standards

Make sure service providers are aware they Make sure service providers are aware they need to tie programs into standardsneed to tie programs into standards

Tie it into No Child Left Behind, PSSA Tie it into No Child Left Behind, PSSA (English, math, ESL, special needs students)(English, math, ESL, special needs students)

Emphasize that it improves student Emphasize that it improves student achievementachievement

Virginia

Report from Breakout SessionReport from Breakout Session

Virginia: Major Programs

Virginia Science StandardsVirginia Science Standards Virginia Classroom GrantsVirginia Classroom Grants On-the-Water & Field ProgramsOn-the-Water & Field Programs CBF, Envirothon, SWCD days CBF, Envirothon, SWCD days Virginia Naturally Model SchoolsVirginia Naturally Model Schools Professional Development programsProfessional Development programs WET, WILD, PLT, EIC, Bay AcademyWET, WILD, PLT, EIC, Bay Academy Outdoor Classrooms Project Outdoor Classrooms Project

Virginia: Challenges

Tracking progress - mechanismTracking progress - mechanism Predictable funding streamPredictable funding stream Stature & role of formal ed in Bay programStature & role of formal ed in Bay program Training NR personnelTraining NR personnel Maintaining existing programs Maintaining existing programs Administrative supportAdministrative support Program development, coordination, evaluation, Program development, coordination, evaluation,

marketingmarketing Technical SupportTechnical Support

Virginia: Accomplishments

Department of Education PartnershipDepartment of Education Partnership Curricular ResourcesCurricular Resources Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development Direct Support for MWEEDirect Support for MWEE

Virginia: Strategies

Tracking progressTracking progress Standardize trackingStandardize tracking Market to principalsMarket to principals More pass-through $ to school divisions for More pass-through $ to school divisions for

coordinated approach (v. 1 teacher 1 class)coordinated approach (v. 1 teacher 1 class) Better menu of MBE to distribute to schools Better menu of MBE to distribute to schools

with detailed lists of where, what & whenwith detailed lists of where, what & whenDevelop Web page for potential MBEsDevelop Web page for potential MBEs

Virginia: Strategies

PartnershipsPartnerships Collaborate between existing users so schools Collaborate between existing users so schools

know opportunitiesknow opportunities Coordination with more River organizationsCoordination with more River organizations Roundtables with nonprofits, SWDCRoundtables with nonprofits, SWDC Partner with VA DCRPartner with VA DCR Use Gateways to get people more involvedUse Gateways to get people more involved Develop science & education guide to bridge Develop science & education guide to bridge

gap between science and educatorsgap between science and educators

Virginia: Strategies

FundingFunding Present classroom programs to private Present classroom programs to private

businesses for fundingbusinesses for funding Market programs to schools and create demand Market programs to schools and create demand

at the local level so Congress will give more $at the local level so Congress will give more $ Coordinate grant writing to one major Coordinate grant writing to one major

organization to distribute smaller amounts of organization to distribute smaller amounts of $ to smaller, rural counties$ to smaller, rural counties

Get state support for Elementary Act Get state support for Elementary Act AmendmentAmendment

Virginia: Strategies

Looking AheadLooking Ahead Link K-12 MBE with collegeLink K-12 MBE with college

Identify mandatory college Identify mandatory college environmental courseenvironmental course

Need wish wish of how to get & deliver Need wish wish of how to get & deliver MBEsMBEs

Need 5 year planNeed 5 year plan Workgroup looks at long range end gameWorkgroup looks at long range end game

Common Themes

Some common points among reports Some common points among reports from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

States’ breakout sessionsStates’ breakout sessions

Common themes: Challenges

Getting teachers out of classroomsGetting teachers out of classrooms Teacher & personnel trainingTeacher & personnel training

Lack of funding, budget cuts, decreased moraleLack of funding, budget cuts, decreased morale Tracking and finding who needs the MBETracking and finding who needs the MBE Lack of administrative support (principals, etc.)Lack of administrative support (principals, etc.) Other mandates (e.g., No Child Left Behind)Other mandates (e.g., No Child Left Behind) Need better marketing: Negative perceptions of Need better marketing: Negative perceptions of

Environmental Education (it’s fluff)Environmental Education (it’s fluff)

Common Themes: Strengths

Environmental Education can be integrated Environmental Education can be integrated into states’ standards of learninginto states’ standards of learning

Good partnershipsGood partnerships There are existing sources of funding that There are existing sources of funding that

could be more fully utilizedcould be more fully utilized A lot is already being done!A lot is already being done!

Common Themes: Strategies

FundingFunding Look to opportunities in private sectorLook to opportunities in private sector Take better advantage of existing resourcesTake better advantage of existing resources Coordinate grant writing/ distribution of small Coordinate grant writing/ distribution of small

grantsgrants Develop more political supportDevelop more political support

Evaluation/ Quality ControlEvaluation/ Quality Control Feedback from teachers and youthFeedback from teachers and youth

Common Themes: Strategies

MarketingMarketing Emphasize research that shows EE improves Emphasize research that shows EE improves

student achievementstudent achievement Integrate MBE by marrying it with:Integrate MBE by marrying it with:

already existing state curriculumalready existing state curriculumstandards of learningstandards of learningfederal mandatesfederal mandatesMath and readingMath and reading

Market to administrators/ principalsMarket to administrators/ principals

Common Themes: Strategies

Teacher trainingTeacher training Have teachers who receive training in Have teachers who receive training in

turn train other teachersturn train other teachers TrackingTracking

Standardize trackingStandardize tracking Create a detailed list of possible Create a detailed list of possible

meaningful Bay experiences that teachers meaningful Bay experiences that teachers can referencecan reference

Common Themes: Next Steps

Looking to the FutureLooking to the Future Create strategic plan (5 years)Create strategic plan (5 years) Prioritize stepsPrioritize steps Develop timeline to implement Develop timeline to implement

suggestionssuggestions

Cooperation is the key!

Together we CAN implement the Together we CAN implement the meaningful Bay and stream meaningful Bay and stream

outdoor experience for every school outdoor experience for every school child in the watershed by 2005child in the watershed by 2005