Elementary & middle schools must provide one example of outdoor/environmental instruction per grade level.

High schools must provide four different examples of outdoor/environmental instruction. These examples can be from any grade level but must show four distinct subject areas/classes (which may include multiple different sciences).

Demonstrate that all school personnel are aware of your school's Green School status and application process.

Acceptable Documentation: Staff meeting agenda or staff sign-in sheet with date and clear description of an all-staff presentation about your Green School efforts; this can be a showing of the MAEOE presentation video on "What it Means to be a Maryland Green School" found on the portal.

Demonstrate how your school celebrates being a Green School by hosting a school-wide environmentally-focused event open to all students.

Acceptable Documentation: Photos of students in all grades participating in activities celebrating Earth Day or other environment-themed holidays such as Earth Hour, America Recycles Day, World Water Day, Arbor Day, etc. and/or detailed event agendas or newsletters describing these celebrations.

Demonstrate that 10% of staff have completed an environmental PD. Instructional staff is defined as any staff that manages a gradebook.

• New Schools must have all PD completed within the past 2 academic years.
• Renewing schools must have all PD completed within the past 4 academic years.

A teacher who has participated in multiple workshops may only be counted once..

Acceptable Documentation: A certificate of completion from any MAEOE training or recommended PD listed on www.MAEOE.org under Professional Learning or any environmental training provided by your school district.

Demonstrate the sustainability practices your teachers, staff, and other personnel have implemented school-wide to make your school green. Any actions involving students belong under Objective 2.

Acceptable Documentation: Photos of practices being implemented by staff and/or policy documents that describe sustainable behaviors such as reducing paper use via double-sided copying or electronic communications, de-lamping or using natural light or task lamps to conserve energy; incentivizing carpooling or public transportation; reducing waste in the staff lounge; etc. You may also include the installation of sustainability features at your school such as solar panels, geothermal heating, water bottle refilling stations, etc.

Demonstrate at least one partnership with a central office or board within the school system that supports part of the Maryland Green Schools Program. Any partnerships outside of your school system belong under Objective 3. Independent schools may partner with their board of trustees, parish office/archdiocese, or funders.

Acceptable Documentation: Sustainability plans, letters from district partners, or completed program applications as well as photos of practices being implemented in partnership with your systemic partner.

Describe at least one environmentally-focused partnership in which your school is working to benefit your community.

Acceptable Documentation: Photos, newsletters, or social media highlighting students participating in an environmental service project such as a local park conservation project, harvesting produce from a farm or school garden to be donated to a food bank, holding a recurring used clothing drive or book swap for the community, or visiting another school to teach other students about the environment.

Describe at least one partnership in which a community partner (different from the systemic partner listed in 1.4.2) is providing any type of Green School services to the school that occur within the classroom, school building, or on school grounds.

Acceptable Documentation: Photos, newsletters, or social media highlighting a local business providing funding or in-kind donations for environmental activities, organizations delivering classroom presentations or assemblies on environmental topics, or organizations assisting with school campus projects such as tree plantings and bird box installations.

Share any environmentally-related awards, special recognition, certifications, or other achievements that your school, staff or students have accomplished.