FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can our school participate?

A: All K-12 schools in Washington State may now sign up to participate.

Q: Does it cost a lot of money?

A: There is no charge to participate in the program. As long as you have web access you can download documents and contact us. There may be costs if your school or district voluntarily decides to modify facilities or take other actions. However, this could also result in lower long-term or short-term operating or utility costs.

Q: Is there a way to connect with other schools participating in the program?

A: Yes. All active schools are listed on the website and you are welcome to contact them directly. Registered schools can also communicate via our internal Bulletin Board to share photos and other resources.

Q: What if no teachers are available to help? Can students still do this program?

A: Your Green Team must include at least one teacher, two students, one school staff member (not a teacher) and one administrator associate. More are encouraged. If you have difficulty meeting this requirement, please contact us at info@wagreenschools.org and we can discuss possible alternative models.

Q: How often should our Green Team meet?

A: As often as you need to accomplish the requirements of the level. We recommend once per month to check-in and see how work is progressing on various actions steps.

Q: How long does it take and what do you have to do?

A: The program has five levels and each level can be accomplished within a school year. Your school could potentially reach the highest level of certified Washington Green Schools within five years. However, each school sets its own pace. Check out the Program Info page for more detailed information.

Q: Can we get points for something our school is already doing?

A. Yes, you will be able to get a specified number of points for your current actions. However, the intent of the program is to inspire you to expand your efforts for greater reduction of your school’s environmental and carbon footprint.

Q: What does an exemplary report card look like?

A. There are three main parts to an excellent report card:

1. Make sure you have answered all questions.
2. Provide clear and descriptive answers for questions in Step 2 and 5. Tell us your story. What did you learn from your assessment?     How did that determine your action steps? What were the impacts of your changes? What did the students learn? How will you continue to improve resource conservation on your campus?
3. Finally, in Step 6, tell us how you shared your results with your community. Be specific and elaborate.

Q: Who is answering my emails?

A: One of the three staff members: Executive co-Directors, Meredith Lohr and Kim Armstrong and  Program Coordinator, Rebecca Meredith. Learn more about us here.

Have additional questions?

Please contact us at info@wagreenschools.org.