Developing an Environmental Literacy Plan: Strategies for Success

by Anna Atticks, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Environmental Literacy and Development Intern

The Mid-Atlantic region is an innovation hub when it comes to weaving environmental literacy into school district programming and policy. School districts are developing and implementing Environmental Literacy Plans (ELPs) to better integrate environmental education and sustainability efforts throughout K-12 education.

To better understand what makes these initiatives successful, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) welcomed Anna Atticks to join the team as an Environmental Literacy and Development Intern in the summer and fall of 2025.

Anna conducted an assessment of existing ELPs across the Mid-Atlantic region to gather best practices for developing, implementing, and revising these plans. She interviewed 19 formal and nonformal environmental education leaders from 3 states who represent 12 different ELPs. The best practices that emerged from these conversations are shared as strategies below.

Set Your ELP Up for Success

1. Establish a Measure of Success

During the plan development process, districts should determine both the intended goals of their ELP, as well as methods to measure its success. Potential measures of success could include: changes in the number of certified sustainable schools within the district, student assessments in science or other relevant subjects, class attendance during outdoor learning experiences, and student reflections from environmental education lessons.

2. Prioritize Funding Discussions

Think strategically about what resources are readily available and what additional resources are required to support the implementation of an ELP. Middlesex County Public Schools took a unique approach to pursuing additional funding: a partnership with the Marine Science Legacy Foundation, which hosts an annual Urbanna Oyster Festival. Through their partnership, funds from this festival support MWEE programs for 6th and 9th-grade students

3. Connect to Local Plans

ELPs are most successful when they incorporate goals from their school district, city, county, and/or state plans rather than serving as an isolated document. For example, Prince George’s County Public Schools aligned their district’s ELP with the county’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP). Their ELP outlines collaboration between the district and the Prince George’s County CCAP Commission to develop a systemic approach to integrate education about climate change into the district’s curriculum.

4. Utilize an Editable and Accessible ELP Format

To help ensure that an ELP can be a living, editable document, consider making the ELP available in multiple formats for different audiences. Some districts have expressed frustrations with the lack of editability of ELPs housed in PDFs. If you are supporting the creation of an ELP, consider creating it in a web-based format that can be easily accessed and updated in a timely manner. PDFs and glossy printed booklets can be valuable for sharing with top level school leaders, but pose challenges for content editing.

Better Support ELP Implementation

1. Integrating Environmental Literacy (EL) into Curriculum

Successful ELPs weave environmental literacy subject matter throughout the curriculum in ways that connect to existing content and standards to minimize burden on staff and educators. During professional learning, educators within Prince William County Public Schools practiced integrating EL by making intentional connections to existing standards; this approach reinforced that EL is not something new or additional, helping to foster a positive mindset throughout the adoption process.

2. Designate Support Structures at the Building Level

Establishing support structures at the individual school level can greatly help successful plan implementation. Types of support structures will vary based on each district’s resource availability and needs, but they can range from a dedicated staff person to online resources. Arlington Public Schools, for example, found success with the creation of Sustainability Liaison positions at each school and a Canvas page for educators that outlines resources to support their curriculum.

3. Professional Learning (PL)

Ongoing professional learning opportunities for educators are important to support the implementation of an ELP. Several districts, including Queen Anne’s County Public Schools and Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 allow educators to first engage with new EL material and outdoor experiences as an observer, providing experiential learning opportunities to educators before they take a leadership role.

People and Partnerships are Vital

1. People and Partnerships

Internal and external partners can support the development, implementation, and continued revisions of an ELP. Friends of the Rappahannock organized a resource fair with Essex County Public Schools, during which educators could explore resources, learn about programming, and fill out interest forms for field trips. Similarly, Science Specialists maintain a Community Partner Map to ensure connectivity between educators and external resources and partnerships that can support environmental curriculum in Richmond Public Schools.

2. Ensure Buy-In from Leadership

To support a collaborative ELP that aligns with broader district goals, consistent communication between district leaders is important. Arlington Public Schools made strides to collaborate with district leaders through the implementation of a Sustainability Advisory Committee. The Committee, which corresponds directly with the district's superintendent, works to further benefit the development and implementation of ELPs, in addition to ensuring connectivity between the ELP and the district’s plans.

Don't Do This Alone!

Through conversations with professionals deeply involved with developing and implementing ELPs, the identified strategies highlight thoughtful practices and successful implementation across various school districts and states. These findings reiterate the importance of an ELP’s connectivity to both internal and external stakeholders and efforts. We hope these strategies can help guide you in creating a meaningful and useful ELP which is reflective of the unique goals, resources, and partnerships associated with your district. Happy planning!