20 U.S.C. § 5504 : US Code - Section 5504: Environmental Education and Training Program

Search 20 U.S.C. § 5504 : US Code - Section 5504: Environmental Education and Training Program

(a) Establishment
There is hereby established an Environmental Education and
Training Program. The purpose of the program shall be to train
educational professionals in the development and delivery of
environmental education and training programs and studies.
(b) Functions and activities
The functions and activities of the program shall include, at a
minimum -
(1) classroom training in environmental education and studies
including environmental sciences and theory, educational methods
and practices, environmental career or occupational education,
and topical environmental issues and problems;
(2) demonstration of the design and conduct of environmental
field studies and assessments;
(3) development of environmental education programs and
curriculum, including programs and curriculum to meet the needs
of diverse ethnic and cultural groups;
(4) sponsorship and management of international exchanges of
teachers and other educational professionals between the United
States, Canada, and Mexico involved in environmental programs and
issues;
(5) maintenance or support of a library of environmental
education materials, information, literature, and technologies,
with electronic as well as hard copy accessibility;
(6) evaluation and dissemination of environmental education
materials, training methods, and related programs;
(7) sponsorship of conferences, seminars, and related forums
for the advancement and development of environmental education
and training curricula and materials, including international
conferences, seminars, and forums;
(8) supporting effective partnerships and networks and the use
of distant learning technologies; and
(9) such other activities as the Administrator determines to be
consistent with the policies of this chapter.
Special emphasis should be placed on developing environmental
education programs, workshops, and training tools that are portable
and can be broadly disseminated.
(c) Grants
(1) The Administrator shall make a grant on an annual basis to an
institution of higher education or other institution which is a not-
for-profit institution (or consortia of such institutions) to
operate the environmental education and training program required
by this section.
(2) Any institution of higher education or other institution (or
consortia of such institutions) which is a not-for-profit
organization and is interested in receiving a grant under this
section may submit to the Administrator an application in such form
and containing such information as the Administrator may require.
(3) The Administrator shall award grants under this section on
the basis of -
(A) the capability to develop environmental education and
training programs;
(B) the capability to deliver training to a range of
participants and in a range of settings;
(C) the expertise of the staff in a range of appropriate
disciplines;
(D) the relative economic effectiveness of the program in terms
of the ratio of overhead costs to direct services;
(E) the capability to make effective use of existing national
environmental education resources and programs;
(F) the results of any evaluation under paragraph (5) of this
subsection; and
(G) such other factors as the Administrator deems appropriate.
(4) No funds made available to carry out this section shall be
used for the acquisition of real property (including buildings) or
the construction or substantial modification of any building.
(5) The Administrator shall establish procedures for a careful
and detailed review and evaluation of the environmental education
and training program to determine whether the quality of the
program being operated by the grantee warrants continued support
under this section.
(d) Eligibility
(1) Individuals eligible for participation in the program are
teachers, faculty, administrators and related support staff
associated with local education agencies, colleges, and
universities, employees of State education, environmental
protection, and natural resource departments, and employees of not-
for-profit organizations involved in environmental education
activities and issues.
(2) Individuals shall be selected for participation in the
program based on applications which shall be in such form as the
Administrator determines to be appropriate.
(3) In selecting individuals to participate in the program, the
Administrator shall provide for a wide geographic representation
and a mix of individuals, including minorities, working at primary,
secondary, postsecondary levels, and with appropriate other
agencies and departments.
(4) Individuals selected for participation in the program may be
provided with a stipend to cover travel and accommodations from
grant funds awarded pursuant to this section in such amounts as the
Administrator determines to be appropriate.