How It Works

Washington Green Schools is organized into five Environmental Categories, with five Levels (Levels 1-5). The Environmental Categories are:

Certification at each Level is achieved by choosing an Environmental Category as your area of focus, completing an Assessment in this Category, addressing the Assessment findings with a long-lasting environmental change, and implementing one action item in each of the other four Environmental Categories.

Schools must earn a minimum of 100 points per Level to achieve Certification. Each Level is designed to take approximately one year. All schools start at Level 1.

Download a one-page overview of the six steps.

Download a PowerPoint presentation about the program.

Watch a short video tour of web site features.

Complete the Following Steps for Each Level:
Step 1 *Build Your Green Team*	Form a Green Team and Create a Washington Green Schools Account Set up an online account for your school. Your Green Team must include at least one teacher, two students, one school staff member (not a teacher) and one administrator associate. More encouraged!	10 Points
Step 2 *Assess: Choose a Category*	Choose an Environmental Category and Complete an Assessment Use the Assessment document, worksheets and requirements. Use the associated Assessment Guide for resources and tips on how to complete the Assessment.	20 Points
Step 3 *Address: Make a Lasting Change*	Reflect on the Assessment Results and Make a Lasting Change Address your Assessment findings by taking action that results in one long lasting environmental change at your school. Refer to the last page of the Assessment for ideas and suggestions.	20 Points
Step 4 *Take More Action*	Choose and Take Additional Action Implement one Action Item (10 points each) from each of the other Environmental Categories to earn a minimum of 40 points.	40 Points
Step 5 *Shout it Out: Share Your Results!*	Share Your Results to Help Inspire Others Share your actions and results within your school and your community to help inspire others. For example, do a presentation for the school board or parent-teacher organization.	10 Points
Step 6 Get Certified and Celebrate!	Submit Your Report Card for Certification Celebrate!	100 Points Per Level

Upon certification at each Level, schools can choose to renew at the current, or advance to the next level.

Renewal process: To continue certification status at the same level, a school repeats the same Assessment, maintains the same Lasting Change, and chooses any Actions from the other four Categories.

Advancement process: To certify at the next higher Level, a school chooses a new Category, Assessment, and Lasting Change. Any Actions carried out during the renewal process can be repeated for certification at the next Level. The only Actions that cannot be repeated are those completed during a previous certification process.