The No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 (HR 3036/S 1981) was introduced to enhance the No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB) by strengthening its focus on environmental education. NCLB requires that teachers spend the majority of their time on reading and math, thus limiting or cutting completely the amount of environmental education that can take place in schools, to the detriment of environmental literacy. The global challenges we face today make environmental literacy more critical than ever.
The No Child Left Inside amends the NCLB Law by:
Providing federal funding for teacher training in environmental education
Providing federal funding to states creating environmental literacy plans
Encouraging school systems, administrators and teachers to make time and resources available for environmental education
Including environmental education across all disciplines
Encouraging use of the environment as an extension of the classroom.
A nationwide coalition of over 400 environmental and conservation organizations, businesses, public health organizations and outdoor recreation groups, the No Child Left Inside Coalition supports the belief that students should receive a strong education about their natural world. The Coalition’s most recent success is an approval of an amended version of the Act by the House Education and Labor committee.
Zoo Atlanta has joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and zoos and aquariums nationwide in supporting the environmental education efforts addressed by No Child Left Inside.
Help Zoo Atlanta support the Coalition.
Learn more about the No Child Left Inside Act. Visit www.eenclb.org for more information.
Share what you’ve learned with friends and family.
“As the environmental community in Atlanta knows, I have a deep commitment to use my vote as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives to preserve and protect this planet. This little piece of real estate we call Earth is not ours to hoard or waste. We must all do what we can to leave this planet a little greener and a little cleaner for future generations. That is why I am a sponsor of the No Child Left Inside legislation because it builds a commitment to environmental preservation and conservation into the minds of our youngest citizens. Education is the key to environmental protection. We all have a right to know what is in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. And with this kind of information, citizens and legislators can make knowledgeable decisions together which help sustain the health and well-being of the planet for generations to come.” ~Congressman John Lewis
Help Spread the News about the “Get ’em Outside” Video
“Get ’em Outside” is a wonderful, five-minute video celebrating the value of environmental education and is quite popular on YouTube. Please embed the video on your organization’s website or provide a link to the video, available here.
