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1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 258B.1 STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL
1 2 EDUCATION STRATEGY.
1 3 1. It is in the interest of the citizens of Iowa that a
1 4 comprehensive environmental education initiative be undertaken
1 5 that will result in environmentally literate and responsible
1 6 citizens who will effectively and constructively solve
1 7 existing environmental problems, prevent new environmental
1 8 problems, and maintain a sustainable environment for future
1 9 Iowans. A healthy economy is intimately linked to a healthy
1 10 environment. The appropriate audiences for environmental
1 11 education include both formal and nonformal audiences,
1 12 business, labor, governments, nonprofit entities, and
1 13 citizens.
1 14 2. The goal of this initiative is to assure that Iowans
1 15 are environmentally literate. An environmentally literate
1 16 citizen is committed to lifelong learning and understands the
1 17 following:
1 18 a. Basic principles of ecology, sociology, and economics.
1 19 b. The interconnection of all parts of the environment.
1 20 c. The environmental and social costs and benefits of
1 21 consumer decisions.
1 22 d. Sources of energy, the improving of energy efficiency,
1 23 and the relationships between energy use and life styles.
1 24 e. The implications of economic and population trends.
1 25 f. The impacts of personal life styles and personal
1 26 choices.
1 27 g. The importance of acting in a sustainable and
1 28 constructive manner to protect the quality and diversity of
1 29 the natural world.
1 30 3. An office of environmental education, an interagency
1 31 environmental education committee, state and county
1 32 environmental education plans, preschool-to-adult
1 33 environmental education programs, environmental education
1 34 assistance, and a grants program shall be established to
1 35 achieve the goal of accomplishing this initiative. For
2 1 purposes of this chapter, "nonformal education" means
2 2 education which takes place outside of the formal, educational
2 3 classroom setting.
2 4 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 258B.2 OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
2 5 EDUCATION.
2 6 1. An office of environmental education is established and
2 7 administratively attached to the Iowa department of education.
2 8 The full-time supervisor of the office shall be an experienced
2 9 environmental educator. The office shall be staffed by
2 10 appropriately trained personnel.
2 11 2. The office of environmental education shall do all of
2 12 the following:
2 13 a. Develop and publish a plan for environmental education
2 14 with assistance from the interagency environmental education
2 15 committee.
2 16 b. Accept, review, and approve county plans for
2 17 environmental education and administer the allocation of funds
2 18 to the county conservation boards provided for under section
2 19 258B.5.
2 20 c. Develop an instrument and procedure for assessing the
2 21 status of environmental literacy of the state's students,
2 22 teachers, and citizens every four years.
2 23 d. Review the state's plan for environmental education
2 24 every four years with the assistance of the interagency
2 25 environmental education committee, revise the plan as needed,
2 26 and transmit the plan to the governor and the general
2 27 assembly.
2 28 e. Establish guidelines and specific criteria for the
2 29 grants program provided for in section 258B.4.
2 30 f. Administer the environmental education grants program.
2 31 g. Develop an instrument and procedure for evaluating
2 32 school environmental education programs for preschool through
2 33 grade twelve.
2 34 h. Promote and aid in the development of preservice and
2 35 inservice environmental education programs for educators
3 1 through cooperation with groups including, but not limited to,
3 2 the Iowa conservation education council and Iowa's colleges
3 3 and universities.
3 4 i. Cooperate with federal and state agencies and the
3 5 private sector in developing, promoting, and evaluating
3 6 environmental education programs.
3 7 j. Promote and aid in the establishment of an
3 8 environmental education clearinghouse by doing all of the
3 9 following:
3 10 (1) Reviewing and recommending environmental education
3 11 materials.
3 12 (2) Cooperating with state agencies and organizations in
3 13 the development and distribution of an environmental education
3 14 newsletter.
3 15 (3) Establishing an electronic capacity to disseminate
3 16 data bases of environmental education information and to
3 17 network with intrastate, interstate, and federal programs.
3 18 k. Promote the development of cooperative environmental
3 19 education initiatives with the private sector.
3 20 l. Facilitate and encourage formal and nonformal
3 21 environmental education programs; facilitate, encourage, and
3 22 support multi-school districts' cooperative efforts to assess
3 23 the need for, develop, and evaluate environmental education
3 24 curricula, promote state government and private sector policy
3 25 that is consistent with the environmental education plan
3 26 established in this legislation, and assist in the
3 27 coordination of formal and nonformal environmental education
3 28 with the kindergarten through grade twelve and postsecondary
3 29 environmental education programs.
3 30 m. Cooperate with organizations, colleges, universities,
3 31 and other research-based institutions to encourage research on
3 32 environmental education as called for in the state
3 33 environmental education plan.
3 34 n. Coordinate environmental education conferences to
3 35 assist in the dissemination, development, and achievement of
4 1 the state's environmental education plan.
4 2 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 258B.3 INTERAGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL
4 3 EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
4 4 1. An interagency environmental education committee is
4 5 established. The committee shall be composed of individuals
4 6 with knowledge in environmental education and the members
4 7 shall be employees appointed by each agency head. These
4 8 agencies may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
4 9 departments of agriculture and land stewardship, cultural
4 10 affairs, education, economic development, human services,
4 11 natural resources, public health, and transportation, the
4 12 state board of regents, and the attorney general's office.
4 13 The chair shall be elected by the members.
4 14 2. Members of the committee shall serve as environmental
4 15 education coordinators for their respective agencies. They
4 16 shall direct an assessment of their own agency's target
4 17 audiences and develop appropriate programs to educate these
4 18 audiences regarding environmental issues. The committee shall
4 19 establish subcommittees as needed and assist with the
4 20 development and implementation of the state's environmental
4 21 education plan.
4 22 3. The committee shall develop and maintain a memorandum
4 23 of understanding to specify methods by which the agencies can
4 24 share their resources to benefit environmental education in
4 25 the state.
4 26 4. The committee shall promote networking, coordination,
4 27 and cooperation among state agencies, promote the efficient
4 28 distribution of information, and facilitate the planning and
4 29 development of educational programs and materials. The
4 30 department of education is responsible for convening and
4 31 facilitating the functions of the committee.
4 32 5. Members of the committee are not eligible to receive
4 33 any separate compensation and are not eligible for
4 34 reimbursement of expenses from the committee.
4 35 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 258B.4 GRANTS PROGRAM.
5 1 An environmental education grants program is established in
5 2 order to accomplish the goals set forth in section 258B.1.
5 3 Guidelines established by the office of environmental
5 4 education shall include, but are not limited to, a requirement
5 5 that grant proposals conform with county or state
5 6 environmental education plans. The department of education
5 7 shall administer the environmental education grant program. A
5 8 grant proposal affecting counties shall be submitted to and
5 9 receive the approval of county environmental education
5 10 committees prior to submission to the department of education.
5 11 A grant proposal affecting more than one county or the entire
5 12 state shall be submitted directly to the department of
5 13 education.
5 14 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 258B.5 ASSISTANCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
5 15 EDUCATION – APPROPRIATION.
5 16 1. Financial assistance shall be administered by the
5 17 office of environmental education of the department of
5 18 education, and shall be provided to county conservation boards
5 19 to support the hiring of professional environmental educators
5 20 to assist schools and nonformal education sectors in planning
5 21 and leading environmental education programs. The financial
5 22 assistance shall be used to provide staff and equipment for
5 23 these programs and shall not be used for the construction or
5 24 maintenance of parks, buildings, or other physical facilities.
5 25 The financial assistance shall not replace existing county
5 26 moneys budgeted for environmental education. Financial
5 27 assistance shall be provided as follows:
5 28 a. Within thirty days of receipt of a county conservation
5 29 board's environmental education plan, pursuant to subsection
5 30 2, fifty percent of any funds appropriated by the general
5 31 assembly for purposes of this section shall be allocated to
5 32 the county conservation board for use in implementing the
5 33 board's environmental education plan. The other fifty percent
5 34 of any funds appropriated by the general assembly for purposes
5 35 of this section shall be divided among eligible counties on a
6 1 population-based formula detailed in paragraphs "b" through
6 2 "d".
6 3 b. A county shall be declared eligible if the county
6 4 submits certification that the county will do both of the
6 5 following:
6 6 (1) Provide county funding or support equivalent to one
6 7 cent per thousand dollars of the assessed value of taxable
6 8 property in the county or thirty-five thousand dollars,
6 9 whichever is less, according to a formula outlined in
6 10 paragraph "c", for environmental education.
6 11 (2) Explain how the financial assistance will be spent for
6 12 environmental education.
6 13 c. In order to meet county funding or support
6 14 requirements, county conservation boards may include the
6 15 dollar equivalent of the following county support:
6 16 (1) Salaries and benefits for all full-time and part-time
6 17 naturalists, environmental education coordinators,
6 18 environmental program specialists, and other positions whose
6 19 responsibilities lie solely within the county conservation
6 20 board's environmental education program.
6 21 (2) For staff positions involving some responsibilities
6 22 outside the environmental education program, such as a ranger,
6 23 a percentage of the salary and benefits equal to that portion
6 24 of time devoted specifically to the environmental education
6 25 program.
6 26 (3) Operation and maintenance, but not purchase, of a
6 27 county vehicle designated to be used specifically by the
6 28 environmental education program staff.
6 29 (4) Funds budgeted specifically for the environmental
6 30 education program, including, but not limited to: program
6 31 supplies, office supplies, telephone and communications,
6 32 uniforms, newsletters and other public relations tools,
6 33 publicity, library and resource materials, printing or
6 34 purchase of environmental and conservation education resource
6 35 materials, travel, and professional development workshops and
7 1 conferences.
7 2 The costs of construction or maintenance of parks,
7 3 buildings or any physical facilities shall specifically not be
7 4 used to meet the county funding or support requirements.
7 5 d. Counties declared eligible shall receive financial
7 6 assistance under this section according to the following
7 7 formula: official population figure of the county according
7 8 to the most recent federal decennial census times forty cents.
7 9 e. In order to fulfill the county funding or support
7 10 requirements of this section, county conservation boards may
7 11 contract with private nature centers, camps, or other private
7 12 or public entities to provide these environmental education
7 13 services. The boards shall submit an annual report to the
7 14 office of environmental education demonstrating and certifying
7 15 the proper use of these funds.
7 16 f. The focus of this financial assistance shall be, but is
7 17 not limited to: helping teachers, group leaders, and other
7 18 environmental educators to plan, develop, and implement
7 19 environmental education programs, including leading outdoor
7 20 environmental education classes for all ages and for both
7 21 formal and nonformal educational groups; providing program
7 22 resources such as environmental education activity guides and
7 23 curricula, learning kits, audiovisual materials, literature,
7 24 and equipment; and interpreting Iowa's natural and cultural
7 25 resources and how to use them wisely.
7 26 2. To receive funds under this section, a county shall
7 27 establish a county environmental education committee. The
7 28 county conservation board shall be responsible for the
7 29 establishment and membership of the committee. Members shall
7 30 include, but are not limited to, representatives from local
7 31 school, conservation, business, and industry groups with
7 32 established interests in environmental education.
7 33 Responsibilities of the committee shall include, but are not
7 34 limited to, the following:
7 35 a. Establishing operating rules for the committee.
8 1 b. Developing and submitting to the county conservation
8 2 board annual eligibility reports.
8 3 c. Developing and submitting the county environmental
8 4 education plan to the office of environmental education. The
8 5 plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the
8 6 following:
8 7 (1) Long-term goals for environmental education in the
8 8 county and an outline of the relationship of the plan to the
8 9 goal of achieving environmental literacy.
8 10 (2) A description of the manner in which the plan utilizes
8 11 existing professional environmental education personnel,
8 12 programs, and facilities.
8 13 (3) An outline of the resources needed to achieve plan
8 14 goals, including sufficient professional educators to meet a
8 15 target of one environmental educator for every three thousand
8 16 to four thousand students in the county.
8 17 (4) Letters of support for the plan from the members of
8 18 the county environmental education committee.
8 19 The plan shall be reviewed and accordingly revised every
8 20 four years in coordination with a state assessment of
8 21 environmental literacy provided for in section 258B.2.
8 22 d. Facilitating communication among all parties active in
8 23 environmental education in the county to maximize the use of
8 24 local resources.
8 25 e. Reviewing and commenting on grants proposals submitted
8 26 to the office of environmental education pursuant to section
8 27 258B.4.
8 28 3. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
8 29 state to the department of education for each fiscal year the
8 30 sum of nine hundred ninety thousand dollars for the purpose of
8 31 providing financial assistance for environmental education as
8 32 provided in subsection 1.
8 33 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 258B.6 RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL
8 34 EDUCATION PROGRAMS – APPROPRIATION.
8 35 1. A residential environmental education program is
9 1 created to recognize the critical role that both direct
9 2 experience with the outdoors and a several-day residential
9 3 experience away from home and the formal school environment
9 4 play in the formation of an environmentally literate
9 5 citizenry.
9 6 2. Phase I of the program shall provide supplemental
9 7 funding of thirty-five dollars per pupil to school districts
9 8 that choose to provide for the attendance of the pupils in one
9 9 grade level at a certified residential environmental education
9 10 center. To receive this funding, school districts must
9 11 provide proof of attendance by their pupils at such a center
9 12 and participation by pupils in a certified program for a
9 13 minimum of three consecutive days for each pupil. In
9 14 addition, school districts shall submit evidence of matching
9 15 contributions of at least fifty percent of the total program
9 16 cost. Local school districts shall choose the grade level and
9 17 the time of year they feel is most developmentally appropriate
9 18 for this residential experience.
9 19 3. Phase II of the program shall consist of all of the
9 20 following:
9 21 a. Development of certification criteria for facilities,
9 22 staff, and programs.
9 23 b. Census of existing facilities, staff, and programs
9 24 relative to the certification criteria.
9 25 c. Assessment of the needs of these facilities.
9 26 4. The program shall be administered cooperatively by the
9 27 department of education and the department of natural
9 28 resources.
9 29 SF 2415
9 30 kh/cc/26
Text: SF02414 Text: SF02416 Text: SF02400 - SF02499 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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