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Silver Award Criteria

 

To be eligible for the Silver Award, a school must accomplish the criteria under each of the Seven Steps below, and must apply online for the award. The online application contains all of the information below, and the school must complete this self-assessment. If the application is successfully entered and all criteria met, the school will be awarded the Eco-Schools USA Silver Award. You will be able to download and print a personalized certificate of achievement.

>> Download a Silver Award checklist. This checklist will help you track your school's progress through the Eco-Schools USA program and confirm that you are meeting criteria to apply for a Silver award.

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The actions noted below must be taken for each of the Seven Steps as follows:

Eco-Action Committee

1. The school has identified an Eco-Action Team which is composed of students, teachers and community members.
2. The group meets a minimum of 6 times a year.
3. Students are part of the decision-making process and share responsibility for keeping minutes at each meeting.
4. Students are responsible for communicating Eco-Action Team information to the whole school.

Environmental Review

1. A formal Environmental Audit of the school is completed (utilizing the Eco-Schools USA template), and findings are documented.
2. Students play an active role in conducting the Environmental Audit.
3. Results of the audit are shared with the whole school.

Action Plan

1. The Eco-Action Team uses results from the formal Environmental Audit to develop a detailed Eco-Action Plan that addresses at least two Eco-Schools pathways and includes specific quantifiable targets with a time frame for completing them. NOTE: You must focus on the energy pathway as one of your two pathways.
2. A range of action is planned covering more than one aspect of environmental management.
3. The Eco-Action Plan is shared with whole school and greater community.

Monitoring and Evaluation

1. The Eco-Action Team monitors and reviews progress against the Eco-Action Plan's set timeframe and targets.
2. The school shows significant progress on one-large scale project that is focused on at least two Eco-Schools pathways.
3. Progress and challenges are communicated to the whole school.

Linking to the Curriculum

1. Students have an opportunity at all grade levels and across disciplines to address environmental issues in the classroom, on the school site or in the greater local community.
2. Students' experiences are integrated into the curriculum and are inquiry-based.

Informing the Whole School/Wider Community

1. The school has a prominent, designated way to communicate with the whole school and greater community such as a bulletin board, website or newsletter which details Eco-Schools activities.
2. The whole school, along with volunteers from throughout the community, engage in a number of Eco-schools activities.

Eco-Code

• The Eco-Action Team, with input from the whole school, develops an Eco-Code that is then agreed upon, adopted, and displayed by the school.