Policy and Advocacy
As a state network, MEEA supports a variety of legislation that center our mission of environmental education, equity, and awareness on both state and federal levels. Below is a list of MEEA’s legislative priorities!
Your support as members of our network is critical in advancing and passing legislation. Reaching out to your state or federal legislators to let them know that their constituents support these bills is essential to gaining support and votes. Emails, phone calls, letters to the editor, oral testimony, and attending public meetings are all ways to get involved and make your voice heard. Please reach out to amara@meeassociation.org if you need support!
LR 808 | An Act to Expand the Green Schools Network
To learn more about this bill, check out this webinar on February 11, 4-5pm ET.
MEEA’s State-level Priority Legislation
MEEA continues to be involved in the present legislative season. At the federal level, we are in the process of compiling a comprehensive list of our legislative priorities. At the state level, we are tracking a number of bills related to environmental education and justice, including LR 1449, “An Act to Support Outdoor Education by Establishing the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program,” and each of the EPC priority bills. Additionally, we are actively involved in the working process of two bills:
LR 808, “An Act to Expand the Green Schools Network”
LR 2162, “An Act to Strengthen the Teaching of Wabanaki Studies in Maine Schools”
Want to know what’s happening at the Maine Statehouse? Here’s some bills we are actively working on. We will continue to keep our network updated throughout the season on any legislative movement impacting the environmental education sector.
LR 2162 | An Act to Strengthen the Teaching of Wabanaki Studies in Maine Schools
LR 2162 aims to reinforce current Wabanaki Studies efforts happening throughout the state and increase access to high quality, Wabanaki-vetted resources and professional development. This bill makes permanent the position of Wabanaki Studies Specialist at the Department of Education and financially supports the contributions of a group of Wabanaki advisors. Efforts for this bill are being led by a working group of volunteers at the Wabanaki Alliance.
LR 1449 | An Act to Support Outdoor Education by Establishing the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program
Maine Outdoor School for All is a movement to get kids outside so they can connect to Maine’s outdoor heritage. Through this initiative, every middle school student in Maine will have the chance for a life-changing learning experience at one of Maine’s renowned outdoor learning centers.
LR 808 | An Act to Expand the Green Schools Network
LR 808 would establish an expansive Green Schools Network that includes an engaging support system among educators regarding environmental literacy and the active support of school districts in their desire to increase efficiencies and reduce carbon emission. This network would consist of pertinent representatives from across the state including (but not limited to): students, educators, MEEA staff, and relevant staff at the Maine DOE. Efforts for this bill are being led by a working group of volunteers organized through the Nature Based Education Consortium.
Environmental Priorities Coalition
MEEA is a member of the Environmental Priorities Coalition. As a member, MEEA supports all of the EPC bills, and is prioritizing the Land for Maine’s Future program, recognizing Wabanaki self-determination, and making climate polluters pay their fair share for climate devastation. Click the links to see fact sheets about each issue.
All of our advocacy work is done in network and through partnerships at the state and federal levels.
Some of those partners include:
The Nature Based Education Consortium, The Enviromental Priorities Coalition, the Maine Green Budget Coalition, Maine Outdoor School for All Network, the North American Association for Environmental Education, Green Schoolyards America, and the Outdoor Alliance fo Kids
MEEA’s Federal Legislative Priorities
S-4993 Living Schoolyards Act
The Living Schoolyards Act (S-4993), introduced into the United States Senate by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), is a groundbreaking bill that will direct important federal resources towards transforming school grounds into living schoolyards—richly layered outdoor environments that strengthen local ecological systems while providing place-based, hands-on learning resources for students of all ages.
We work closely with Green Schoolyards of America on this effort
S. 1239, No Child Left Inside Act
MEEA has been working on this bill for two years and advocated for Senator Collins to sign on as a co-sponsor. Our network’s support was critical in realizing this!
The legislation would provide federal grants to states for partnerships between school districts and parks, natural resource management agencies, educator preparation programs, and museums or other organizations with expertise in engaging young people with real-world examples of environmental and scientific concepts. It would also establish a pilot program for outdoor school education programs that offer intensive, hands-on learning experiences, such as residential programs and summer camps.
Green Ribbons Program
The Department of Education’s (ED) Green Ribbon Schools program has awarded the Green Ribbon to over 600 schools, districts and colleges and universities over the past 12 years. The Green Ribbon Act promises to give the current program greater impact by strengthening the capacity of states to educate and equip schools with what they need to work toward the achievement of the three aspirational goals of the award. The Green Ribbon Act would 1) provide grants for implementation of state-wide green school programs consistent with the Department of Education’s (ED) Green Ribbon Schools program, 2) provide $10k honoraria to winners of the Green Ribbon award, 3) create a Clearinghouse Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Department to function as a technical assistance center for school infrastructure; and 4) expand the ED program to include nonformal learning institutions.
Appropriations
Every year, MEEA also advocates for environmental education funding for NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency, which has support Maine’s environmental education.