Policy Exemplars to Advance Living Schoolyards, Environmental Literacy, Sustainability, and Children’s Access to Nature
Across the United States, government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and advocates are working to ensure that outdoor learning and nature-rich living schoolyards are accessible to all PK–12 students, and that the physical infrastructure of school buildings and grounds becomes more sustainable and less of a burden on the environment over time.
This webpage includes examples of policies and policy guidance from state and local institutions and nonprofit advocacy organizations across the country and around the world. Many of the policy examples shown below have been supporting the ongoing use and development of outdoor spaces on PK–12 school grounds for outdoor learning, schoolyard greening, and sustainability for many years. We see these examples as models that can be used to help catalyze ongoing policy adoption in more places in the years to come.
We hope to expand the list below over time. If you know of additional examples we should include, please send us an email with a link and related information. Thank you!
This Living schoolyard in Berlin, Germany was designed to absorb 100% of rainfall and create a park-like environment for students to enjoy the natural world, every day.
© Green Schoolyards America
National Guidance
Children and the Outdoors State Policy Solutions Guide
National Wildlife Federation, April 2007
State policy examples related to outdoor learning (published before COVID-19 pandemic)
Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook
Youth Outdoor Policy Partnership
Guidebook highlighting successful bipartisan policy initiatives; provides resources to support new statewide efforts to build healthy communities by increasing kids’ regular, positive experiences outside through environmental education and youth engagement in the outdoors
The Oakland Declaration on the Vital Role of Nature-Based Learning in Promoting the Wellbeing of People and the Planet
Children and Nature Network, January 2020
Resolution supporting nature-based learning
State and Local Guidance
California
Blueprint for Environmental Literacy
California Department of Education, 2015
Strategic plan for integrating environmental literacy into California K–12 schools
Assembly Bill 1548 (Pavley, 2003)
California State Legislature, October 3, 2003
Bill that established California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs) — which explore the interdependence of human social systems and natural systems — and required that these concepts be expressed through a model curriculum, integrated into state frameworks, and included in state-approved K–8 science and history-social science core instructional materials and other subjects where practicable
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 128 (Ting, 2014) — Living Schoolyard Month
California State Legislature, June 16, 2014
Assembly concurrent resolution to designate the month of May as Living Schoolyard Month (from Assemblymember Phil Ting)
Click the photo, linked above, to read the story of ACR-128, which established Living Schoolyard Month in California.
Senate Bill 720 (Allen, 2018)
California State Legislature, 2018
Bill directing the State Board of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and district superintendents and their school boards to support environmental literacy and codify California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts in Education Code
Policies from Local and Regional Institutions in California
Press Release: L.A. Unified Board of Education Unanimously Approves Resolution to Expand Outdoor Learning Opportunities
Los Angeles Unified School District, April 14, 2021
”The L.A. Unified Board of Education voted today to unanimously approve Board Member Nick Melvoin’s resolution to expand access to outdoor learning opportunities for District students. The resolution calls for more funding and resources to expand existing outdoor education programs as well as explore new and innovative opportunities, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
File #: Res-019-20/21
Policy Press Release
Oakland Unified School District, Green Schoolyards America, Trust for Public Land, February 15, 2019
Oakland Unified School District's Board of Education passed two complementary policies to transform asphalt school grounds into living schoolyards and create an environmental and climate literacy policy to align OUSD's curriculum toward sustainability
Board Policy 7110.1 — Development of Living Schoolyards
Oakland Unified School District, February 13, 2019
School board policy to create a new district-wide Living Schoolyard Initiative that will transform all of its school grounds over time from pavement into park-like spaces
Board Policy 6142.5 — Environmental and Climate Change Literacy
Oakland Unified School District, February 13, 2019
School board policy to adopt environmental and climate change literacy curriculum and sustainability-oriented practices
Facilities Master Plan
Oakland Unified School District, May 13, 2020
New facilities master plan that includes living schoolyards (see memo page 3; document pages 14, 38, 51, 56, 57, 58, 62, 64)
COLORADO
Natural Outdoor Learning Environments Stewardship Guidelines
Early Childhood Health Outdoors, 2019
Guidebook for policies on developing outdoor learning environments for young learners
MARYLAND
Maryland Green Schools Act
Maryland State Legislature, 2019
2019 legislation aimed at making half of the schools in Maryland green schools
MICHIGAN
No Child Left Inside Proclamation
Office of the Governor — Michigan, April 20, 2009
2009 proclamation highlighting the benefits of outdoor learning
New Mexico
Senate Memorial
New Mexico State Legislature, January 2021
State Senator Siah Hemphill introduced a senate memorial during the first session of the 55th legislature requesting that the New Mexico legislature establish a task force to promote the use of outdoor classrooms in New Mexico schools and that the governor declare an “outdoor learning day” in 2021. Status: Introduced
Texas
OLE! Texas
Texas Department of State Health Services, April 30, 2020
Website housing a number of policy resources related to outdoor learning
The video above reports on the New Mexico Senate’s consideration of a Memorial to promote outdoor classrooms and outdoor learning.
The Regulatory Framework for Outdoor Learning in Texas Childcare Facilities
Texas Department of State Health Services, November 11, 2011
Technical guide to policies, regulations, and laws related to outdoor learning in Texas
Policies from Local and Regional Institutions in Texas
Austin Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights
City of Austin and Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin, 2016
The City of Austin passed a resolution in 2016 to help increase children’s access to nature in the city.
INTERNATIONAL
Buckton Vale Primary School Outdoor Learning Policy
Buckton Vale Primary School, May 2016
Primary school policy for outdoor learning from the United Kingdom
The Westerbeke Declaration on School Grounds
International School Grounds Alliance, 2011
International declaration written upon the founding of the ISGA, expressing a vision for school grounds to be used for outdoor learning and play around the world. This document was the basis for California's statewide Living Schoolyard Resolution, ACR-128.
Benefits of Risk in Play and Learning: Ubud-Höör Declaration
International School Grounds Alliance, 2017
International declaration about children's well-being and right to play and learn, written and approved by all 54 of ISGA's Leadership Council members, representing 38 organizations from 16 countries and six continents
Meadows Primary School and Nursery Outdoor Learning Policy 2019
Meadows Primary School and Nursery, 2019
Primary school policy for outdoor learning from the United Kingdom
Credits
This list of policy exemplars was compiled and curated by Tim Baird, EdD, Superintendent (retired), Encinitas Union School District; Sharon Danks, MLA-MCP, Kyle Macdonald, and Lauren McKenna, MLA, from Green Schoolyards America, and Kirk Anne Taylor, MPA, Ten Strands.
National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative
The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to increase physical distancing capacity onsite and provide access to abundant fresh air. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.
