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A Brief Overview of Legislative Efforts:

Colorado legislation for EE will prepare citizens, young and old to understand and address the major environmental, social and economic challenges facing the state by focusing on a coordinated strategy to improve environmental literacy.

Environmental Education in Colorado advanced significantly when HB 1131 was introduced in January of 2010.  The legislation creates a grant program to connect youth with nature and facilitates the development of a statewide environmental literacy plan.  The Bill passed in the House on March 3rd, 2010 (44-22) and in the Senate on May 10th, 2010 (24-11) with bi-partisan support.

CAEE and the Coalition continue to support the following components in state legislation:

· Creation and implementation of a statewide environmental literacy plan to ensure a workforce and citizenry prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century

· Creation and management of a fund to support the development and implementation of the environmental literacy plan

· Restoration of and increase in outdoor environmental education field experiences available as part of the formal school curriculum

· Establishment and administration of an environmental education grant fund to promote and provide access to EE programs for schools and communities

· Provide needed resources to improve access to environmental education for underserved populations in Colorado

· Build and maintain a clearinghouse of environmental education information for the state

Click here to watch a video of the Colorado Legislature introducing, discussing, passing and signing HB10-1131.

Let your colleagues and friends know about this critical legislation.

Download Final HB 1131-The Colorado Kids Outdoors Grant Program Bill.

The Environmental Literacy Plan will be a framework to:

• Create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development of teachers and environmental educators,
• Improve state-wide access to existing environmental education materials and programs,
• Serve minority populations with culturally appropriate environmental education programs,
• Restore and increase field experiences as part of the formal school curriculum,
• Create or support community programs that contribute to healthy lifestyles through outdoor activity,
• Provide guidance to the State Board of Education to establish guidelines to incorporate environmental education into Colorado’s curriculum-including opportunities to connect students to nature.

Thank you to our Legislative Sponsor

Representative Christine Scanlan (D-District 16) and Senator Dan Gibbs (D-District 16) sponsored legislation to support environmental literacy in Colorado in the 2010 legislative session. 

Bill Number: House Bill 10-1131

Thank you Representative Scanlan and Senator Gibbs!

What you can do:

Get your organization to sign on in support of this legislation. Click here to add your organization to the list.  To find out more, email us.  Use a list of suggestions from our Get Active page to aid in contacting your local congressional leaders.