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Rhode Island ASLA Backs Reed Legislation09-26-11 | News
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Rhode Island ASLA Backs Reed Legislation




The No Child Left Inside Act has the support of many organizations, including the Rhode Island Chapter of ASLA and ASLA National.

The Rhode Island ASLA Chapter has thrown its support behind a piece of legislation that has been introduced by Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, Sen. Mark Kirk, R-IL, and Congressman John Sarbanes, D-MD.

The No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act is aimed to help states boost environmental literacy.

“Passing the No Child Left Inside Act is a key step in improving the quality of our children’s education, and preparing them for the complex challenges of the future workforce,” Senator Reed said.

Environmental education is gaining popularity across the country (see links below to find statistics and local examples). In June, Maryland became the first state in the country to require school systems to ensure that students are environmentally literate when they graduate from high school. Maryland has the best school system in the country, according to Education Week magazine. But children in some states benefit more than children in other states. Many states are looking for help to implement environmental literacy plans, and to train and prepare educators.

“Environmental education must be a part of the formal pre-K-12 education system if we are to fully prepare students to become lifelong stewards of our natural resources and compete in a green economy,” Congressman Sarbanes said.

The bi-partisan No Child Left Inside Act provides incentives to states to implement environmental literacy programs that support outdoor learning activities at schools and outdoor centers as well as professional development for teachers.

Environmental education uses the natural world as a context and tool for learning, much as you would use a science lab. Environmental education does not teach students what to think about issues, merely provides resources to help them understand and act in the world.

Forty states have already used gubernatorial executive orders, state laws or other concrete actions to urge the development of statewide environmental literacy plans, and outdoor plans and strategies.

The No Child Left Inside Coalition includes over 2,000 organizational members around the country — including the ASLA — representing more than 50 million individuals.

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