Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO MUNDO VERDE BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO IMPLEMENT AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROJECT THAT WILL BE DESIGNED TO EQUIP TEACHERS WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO HELP STUDENTS USE DATA TO ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACTS OF SAVING WATER AND ENERGY EDUCATION ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. ACTIVITIES:THIS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND DRAW ON INSIGHTS GAINED FROM THE SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL DATA DASHBOARD IN ACADEMIC PROJECTS ON MUNDO VERDE'S TWO CAMPUSES. THE DASHBOARD WILL COMPILE CAMPUS-WIDE DATA ON WATER, ENERGY, AND WASTE, FURTHERING THE SCHOOL'S MISSION TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE DEVELOPING A DATA-CENTERED CURRICULUM; PROVIDING TRAINING ON THE CURRICULUM FOR AT LEAST 25 MUNDO VERDE EDUCATORS AND UP TO 25 ADDITIONAL EDUCATORS ACCEPTED INTO THE COHORT FUNDED BY THIS GRANT; AND EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO USE DATA TO ACT BY PARTICIPATING IN ENVIRONMENTAL DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS ON THEIR CAMPUSES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO REACH 50 EDUCATORS AND 750 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AT MUNDO VERDE BILINGUAL PCS AND FIVE SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON, DC. SUBRECIPIENT:UPON AWARD, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREEN SCHOOLS NATIONAL NETWORK (GSNN), MUNDO VERDE WILL GIVE SUBAWARDS EACH WORTH $5,000 TO 5 INTERESTED SCHOOLS, TOTALING $25,000, IN WASHINGTON, DC TO PARTICIPATE IN COHORT-BASED TRAINING. THE AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN TO OFFSET EDUCATOR TIME AND IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROJECTS AT THEIR CAMPUSES. OUTCOMES:THE IMMEDIATE OUTPUT (6-12 MONTHS) INCLUDES 750 STUDENTS PER YEAR USING PROTOCOLS IN PROJECT-BASED UNITS OF STUDY AND UP TO 50 EDUCATORS IMPLEMENTING BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL DATA PROTOCOLS AND ASSESSMENTS. THIS STAGE AIMS TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITY, APPLYING MATHEMATICAL AND SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS TO THEIR ANALYSES TO CARRY OUT ACADEMIC PROJECTS. AS THE PROGRAM MATURES (12-24 MONTHS), THE FOCUS SHIFTS TO REFINING PROTOCOLS BASED ON FEEDBACK AND EXPANDING THE REACH OF EE PROGRAMS. IN THE LONG TERM (2+ YEARS), THE SCHOOL ENVISIONS A REDUCTION IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION, WASTE, AND WATER USE ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES, WHICH WILL BE MEASURABLE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DATA VIA THE DASHBOARD. THEY ALSO ENVISION BEHAVIORAL AND MINDSET CHANGES BY STUDENTS TO REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, EVIDENCED BY PRE- AND POST-ASSESSMENT DATA. THEY AIM TO HAVE 50 EDUCATORS TRAINED IN EE PROTOCOLS AND ASSESSMENTS, WITH IMPROVED FACILITATION SKILLS AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW VARIOUS FACTORS INFLUENCE OUTCOMES IN THEIR PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE THE COMMUNITIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.