The purpose of the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act is to support and enhance environmental education in our nation’s elementary and secondary schools. Environmental education is a vital part of the solution to: our nation’s energy and environmental problems; preparing our workforce for the 21st century economy and jobs; and improving student achievement and engagement in science and other core subjects.

During the 110th Congress (two years ago), two companion bills were introduced: H.R. 3036, led by Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD) with 64 co-sponsors, and S.1981 led by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) with 15 co-sponsors.  On September 17, 2008, the full House of Representatives passed the No Child Left Inside Act, H.R.3036, by an overwhelmingly bi-partisan vote of 293-109.  With a new Congressional session, these bills were not enacted and needed to be re-introduced for new voting. 

On Earth Day, April 22, 2009, Senator Reed introduced bill S. 866, with 17 co-sponsors, and Representative Sarbanes introduced bill H.R2054, with 81 co-sponsors.  The bipartisan bills would provide $100 million to already-adopted environmental literacy plans across the country. 

Please encourage your Congresspeople to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation!    Learn more about environmental education and NCLI at www.nclicoalition.org.

Legislation is developed in committees of legislators with their staff.  The committees responsible for the No Child Left Behind reauthorization are

• House of Representatives – Committee on Education and Labor
• Senate - Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Join the Coalition to Advance Environmental Literacy in Colorado Coalition

The Coalition to Advance Environmental Literacy in Colorado was created to find new ways to encourage kids to experience nature and learn about the environment.  To meet the goals, The Coalition supports the No Child Left Inside Act. Today the Coalition has grown to more than 1300 member organizations, representing more than 50 million people, including environmental, education, public health and business groups, all of whom appreciate the value of getting kids outside. Join the Coalition today on behalf of your organization at www.nclicoalition.org.

Contact your congresspersons about the No Child Left Inside Act

• Do you believe that children should be better prepared to address increasingly complex environmental issues?
• Do you believe that children should be spending more time outside, learning and playing?
• Do you believe that the nation’s public schools have a critical role ensuring that both of these goals are met?

The No Child Left Inside Act will make that happen, improving children’s health and contributing to a healthier, more sustainable society. You can support this bi-partisan effort by contacting your federal legislators immediately and asking them to co-sponsor the No Child Left Inside Act (sponsored by Rep. John Sarbanes and by Sen. Jack Reed).

Representatives Jared Polis, (CO-2) Diana DeGette, (CO-1) Ed Perlmutter, (CO-7) Senator Michael Bennett have already agreed to co-sponsor the No Child Left Inside Act. Our other congresspersons have not yet agreed to co-sponsor.

Senator Mark Udall
Phone: (202) 224-5941 Fax: (202) 224-6471

Representative John T. Salazar (3rd)
Phone: (202) 225-4761 Fax: (202) 226-9669
Representative Betsy Markey (4th)
Phone: (202) 225-4676 Fax: (202) 225-5870
Representative Doug Lamborn (5th)
Phone: (202) 225-4422 Fax: (202) 226-2638
Representative Mike Coffman (6th)
Phone: (202) 225-7882 Fax: (202) 226-4623

Please contact your representative and senators to ask that they co-sponsor this important legislation. 

Help us guarantee that no student is left inside when it comes to learning about his or her environment.
1. Fax or e-mail a letter urging your federal legislators to co-sponsor the No Child Left Inside Act. Find and email your congressperson and let them know that environmental education is important to you. 
2. After sending your e-mail or fax, call your legislators’ offices and ask to speak to the education staff person. Tell him or her how important it is that your representative or senator co-sponsor the No Child Left Inside Act and support its inclusion in the Elementary and Secondary School Act.
3. Send this action alert to your friends, family, and colleagues and ask them to contact their representative and senators.

Key Points
The No Child Left Inside Act:
- Provides federal funding to states to train teachers in environmental education and to operate model environmental education programs, which include outdoor learning.
- Provides funding to states that create environmental literacy plans to ensure that high school graduates are environmentally literate.
- Provides funding through an environmental education grant program to build state and national capacity.

For more information about the No Child Left Inside Act and the No Child Left Inside Coalition, go to www.nclicoalition.org.

Note: “No Child Left Inside” is used with permission from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.