Excellence in Environmental Education for Elementary and Secondary Schools in the United States

Abstract

As in most parts of the world, environmental education in the United States is an evolving field. This evolution, however, is situated within the context of a highly political nationwide debate which has been raging, for nearly 30 years, over how to best provide quality education for all learners. Much of this debate has centered on the development of national, state and local standards for the core disciplines. These efforts have effectively narrowed the curriculum to a primary focus on reading and mathematics. Environmental education, which has always fought to find a place within the curriculum, stands in danger of becoming even more marginalized. This chapter focuses on how efforts to professionalize the field – to promote excellence in environmental education particularly at the elementary and secondary levels – took root and how the environmental education community is focusing on building the necessary capacity to implement coherent and cohesive environmental education programs nationwide.