CA Green Ribbon Schools Application Support

Project Management Resources:

• District Green Ribbon Project Management Template: This template provides the scaffolding for managing a green ribbon application. Each section includes the GRS Application Questions, a list of possible writers and reviewers, and a list of where one might find resources to fill out that section of the application. After making a copy of this template, the Green Ribbon Project Manager(s)/Lead Applicant can delegate researching and writing tasks for each section.

• Green Ribbon Application Progress Trackers: These spreadsheets are application progress tracker templates that support managing a Green Ribbon application with input from different members of a school community. There is an application progress tracker for first time applicants, and for return applicants who are looking to level up on their application:

  • • Application Tracker for First Time Applicants (download to make a copy for use)

    • Application Tracker for Return Applicants (download to make a copy for use)

• Ventura County Office of Education's (VCOE) Green Ribbon Application Technical Guide: The aim of this technical guide is to support a team of dedicated and passionate leaders to successfully submit a CA-GRS application to recognize all the efforts, strategies, and activities of the district and school to be environmentally sustainable. This technical guide offers ideas, tools, and resources to facilitate a successful process that includes reflection, documentation, and generating next steps for continued improvement. 

Example Applications: This folder contains example applications from sites, districts, and COEs at different tiered levels of achievement: bronze, silver, gold, and green achiever. 

Rubric Resources: These tools support the prediction of what an applicants anticipated score might be for each section of the application. 

• U.S. Department of Education Sample Scoring Rubric

• Paul Chapman Green Ribbon Rubric Crib Sheet 

Communication Resources for Sharing About Green Ribbon Achievement: The Lead Applicant and Lead Administrators will be informed by the CA Green Ribbon Committee of recognition status in January/February. Usually this information is embargoed until the U.S. Department of Education makes their announcement on Earth Day (April 22 every year). The resources below support Green Ribbon Achievers in sharing out to their community about the status of their application after receiving Green Ribbon recognition. 

• Application Summary Documents: Use the following to support summarizing the application into no more than four pages or into a slide deck presentation that can be shared with students, staff, a school board, or parent presentation: 

  • • Summary Examples: 

      • • Site: Bishop O'Dowd 2013-14 (Silver) Document and Slides 

        • County: SMCOE Summary and Next Steps (2017-2019)

    • Templates: Document Template and Slide Template

• Press Release and Newsletter Communications: Use the following resources to support communications in crafting news article announcements or elevating those who are most closely supporting the Green Ribbon work.  

  • • Press Release and Newsletter Examples

    • Achiever Story Examples