West Virginia has a strong commitment to environmental literacy supported by state agencies, local nonprofits, universities, and of course, school districts themselves. Nonprofit partners like Cacapon Institute, Potomac Valley Audubon, and Experience Learning encourage school districts in the Eastern Panhandle to participate in the biennial collection of data, known as the Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool (ELIT), to understand the landscape and inform efforts to advance the implementation of environmental education. In 2022, three of the eight school districts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed completed the survey. Data about how prepared the school districts feel to implement a comprehensive and systemic approach to environmental literacy from the 2022 ELIT Survey show one school district is "well prepared" and two school districts are “somewhat prepared.” Results from individual school districts are also available.
To review progress of the environmental literacy efforts across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, visit Chesapeake Progress which uses ELIT Survey data only from districts within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
West Virginia adopted new science standards based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Objectives for Science in 2015 to establish guidelines for science instruction. NGSS supports environmental literacy both explicitly and implicitly with environmentally related content and science and engineering practices.
The Facilitator's Guide to MWEE Training is a modular resource to support consistent MWEE training across the region.
The ELM is a comprehensive planning document that articulates the trajectory of a MWEE. Find and use exemplar ELMs developed by teachers and educators from across the region for inspiration.
The Funding page lists regional and state grants to support MWEEs and environmental education programs.
WV OLNI is a network of school district and community partners in Jefferson, Morgan, and Berkeley counties with a shared vision for systemic environmental literacy for every student. In addition to the school districts, backbone partners of this network include Experience Learning, Potomac Valley Audubon Society, and Cacapon Institute.
WV DEP is a state agency with a mission to promote a healthy environment including West Virginia’s air, water, and land. WV DEP maintains a website with locally relevant environmental education resources.
WCSTA is a statewide organization that has provided for or supported many of the professional development needs of teachers of science in West Virginia for over 30 years.
WVEEA is the professional organization for environmental educators in West Virginia. The organization is not currently active but maintains a Facebook page.
The West Virginia Sustainable Schools (WVSS) award program is a recognition program for schools that exemplify a commitment to sustainable practices in the facilities as well as integrate those practices into the curriculum and community. All public and private schools in West Virginia are invited to apply and schools that receive the WVSS award may be nominated for consideration as a Green Ribbon School.
The end goal of the program is to strengthen the local capacity to deliver high quality educational experiences to all students in West Virginia’s Panhandle.
Visit cbf.org for more information