Deadline: 29 May 2020
The purpose of this announcement is to invite eligible institutions to submit applications to operate the National Environmental Education and Training Program. This program is authorized under Section 5 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (the Act) (Public Law 101-619).
The purpose of the National Environmental Education and Training Program is to deliver environmental education (EE) training and long-term support to education professionals across the U.S. in the development and delivery of environmental education and training programs and studies. Training and support must:
- Provide for both formal and non-formal educators (e.g., classroom teachers and faculty at colleges and universities as well as educators in museums, nature centers and other non-formal venues);
- Occur in both pre-service (e.g., for students and faculty in colleges of education) and in-service settings (e.g., for classroom teachers and other practicing educators); and
- Reach geographically and culturally diverse audiences across the U.S. to the maximum extent possible.
Anticipated Outputs
- Delivering in-service educator training that builds on existing quality environmental education programs;
- Delivering pre-service educator training that enables students and faculty in education departments at colleges and universities to effectively include environmental education in their teaching;
- Developing, promoting and/or providing training on the national environmental education guidelines that seek to improve the quality of environmental education. This refers to the guidelines produced by the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education.
- Supporting state “infrastructure” that enables educators to effectively teach about environmental issues (referred to as “state capacity building”);
- Developing materials review process that identifies, evaluates, and promotes quality environmental education materials;
- Supporting accreditation efforts to include environmental education in college and university teacher preparation programs;
- Supporting state educator certification efforts by assisting states that are developing their own certification programs;
- Facilitating access to environmental education information and materials by building on existing Internet sites that provide broad electronic access;
- Progress reports and a final report will also be required outputs as specified in Section VI (C) of this announcement, “Reporting Requirement.”
Funding Information
- The total estimated funding expected for year one of this cooperative agreement under this competitive opportunity is $2,175,500.
- Total estimated funding is approximately $11 million.
- It is estimated that $2,141,500 may be awarded for each additional year up to five years total.
- The estimated initial project period for the award resulting from this solicitation will be October 1, 2020 to September 31, 2021. The project period may be extended with incremental funding for up to a total of five years.
Eligibility Criteria
- In accordance to CFDA 66.950, only U.S. institutions of higher education, not-for-profit institutions as described in Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which are exempt from taxation pursuant to provisions of section 501(a) of such Code, or a consortium of such institutions may apply to operate this program as specified under the Act.
- Because of the broad and diverse nature of this program, EPA encourages eligible institutions to form a consortium to operate this program. Eligible institutions may be a member of a consortium in more than one application. However, such institutions may not apply as the sole applicant or as the lead institution in a consortium in more than one application.
- For-profit organizations are not an eligible entity for this funding opportunity. Additionally, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply. Foreign governments, international organizations and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are also not eligible to apply.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted electronically via given website.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=324813