Thank you for your interest in the second annual U.S. Department of Education’s (U.S. DOE) Green Ribbon Schools (GRS) Program.

The GRS program recognizes schools that have significantly reduced their environmental impact, increased energy efficiency, positively impacted the health of students and staff, and graduated students who are environmentally-minded and sustainability literate.

If you are considering applying for GRS recognition:

1. Review the Framework for Evaluation of Schools document to learn who and what is involved in gathering the information required on the application. Don’t worry if the questions look daunting. You will find you can answer many of them by consulting the resources identified in the framework document and working with your school team. 
2. Submit your intent to apply by e-mailing Gilbert Chun, Auxiliary Services Branch Administrator at gilbert.chun@notes.k12.hi.us by October 15, 2012. 
3. Upon receipt of your intent to apply, the GRS selection committee will contact you to provide assistance in assessing your school’s facilities. 
4. The final deadline for submitting the State application is December 14, 2012. The completed application along with pictures and videos should be e-mailed to Mr. Chun. The Hawaii GRS selection committee will review all applications, verify the information submitted, and assist schools to complete your application as needed. 
5. The Hawaii GRS selection committee will then select up to four schools to represent Hawaii and submit these applications to the U.S. DOE by February 2013. 
6. On April 22, 2013, the U.S. DOE will announce the awardees and present the GRS National awards on June 3, 2013, in Washington D.C.

The application process is designed to encourage schools to evaluate their operations against national and local best practices.

The GRS award is part of a larger U.S. DOE effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best practices proven to result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness, as well as a government-wide aim to increase energy independence and economic security.

Last year, Ewa Makai Middle and Hawaii Preparatory Academy, a private school, were among 78 schools nationally selected by the U.S. DOE as winners of the inaugural GRS program. National winners may not reapply for the program for at least three years.

As many as 40 states intend to participate in this year’s program.

For more information regarding the GRS program or if you have questions regarding the application process, please contact Mr. Chun at (808)586-3452 or gilbert.chun@notes.k12.hi.us.

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