Green Ribbon Education Grants for Schools

Summary#

The Green Ribbon Act of 2026 would set out a federal Green Ribbon Schools Program, create a Green Ribbon award program for museums, libraries and other nonformal learning institutions, and establish an office inside the Department of Education. Its stated goal is to help more schools take part in environmental, environmental-literacy and environmental-health work; this is a goal, not a promised result.

  • The Education Secretary must run the schools program, update its award criteria within six months of enactment, and make annual awards based on nominations and progress toward all three Green Ribbon pillars.
  • The Secretary must offer competitive grants to state education agencies. States that receive grants must spend at least 40% on underresourced schools and document that spending.
  • Grant funds may support state awards, partnerships, training and other listed activities. Each state grant must be between $250,000 and $1 million and may be used for no more than three years.
  • The bill would require $10,000 honoraria for school award winners, subject to appropriations, and a separate $10,000 honorarium for each national award winner in the new Institute of Museum and Library Services program.
  • A new three-employee office within the Education Secretary’s office would coordinate federal work and provide technical assistance, among other duties. It would not be an independent agency.

What it means for you#

  • Schools and school systems: Participation is not required. Eligible schools, school systems, Bureau of Indian Education schools and higher-education institutions could receive support through state grants or be nominated for an award. Awards recognize high performance in progress toward the three pillars; they do not require meeting every long-term goal.
  • States: State education agencies could apply for grants and would have to direct at least 40% to underresourced schools. The Education Secretary would choose recipients competitively.
  • Museums, libraries and other listed learning institutions: The Institute of Museum and Library Services Director would have to create a national award program and provide each national winner a $10,000 honorarium.
  • Education Department: It would have to run the programs, update award criteria, consult federal health and environmental agencies, and publish reports. The new office would have three full-time employees.
  • General public: The bill does not directly require households or businesses to change their conduct, pay a new tax or fee, or meet new environmental standards.

Money#

The bill authorizes $10 million for fiscal year 2027, plus amounts deemed necessary for 2028–2032, for most of its programs; it separately authorizes $2 million for the new office in fiscal year 2027. These authorizations do not themselves provide the money.

  • At least $250,000 must be reserved for the Interior Secretary’s work with Bureau of Indian Education schools. Ten percent of amounts appropriated under the main authorization must be reserved for the museum and library award program.
  • The Education Secretary may reserve up to 5% of the main program’s appropriations for administration.
  • The bill requires three full-time employees for the new office, but gives no staffing-cost estimate. It allows the office to provide grants only subject to appropriations.
  • School award honoraria depend on appropriations. No overall cost estimate or expected number of grants and awards is provided.

What is unclear#

  • The materials do not include the current laws or program rules for Green Ribbon Schools, so the bill’s changes to existing federal arrangements cannot be fully verified.
  • The bill does not define “underresourced schools” or set a minimum share for any particular kind of eligible school.
  • The Education Secretary must set grant application details and updated award criteria. The bill does not specify the full application, selection, appeal or oversight process.
  • It is unclear how the new museum and library award program will select nominees or winners, or how its awards will be funded in practice.
  • The bill does not say how many schools or institutions will receive support, or how much the programs will cost if Congress provides the authorized funding.

Case for#

  • The bill appears intended to help more schools take part, including schools not seeking an award, by funding state-level support and training.
  • Requiring states to spend at least 40% of grants on underresourced schools could direct a substantial share of that funding to schools with fewer resources.
  • Technical assistance and shared best practices could help schools address energy and water use, resilience, indoor conditions and facility planning.
  • The new museum and library awards would extend recognition of environmental and health goals beyond schools.

Case against#

  • The bill sets broad goals but leaves important choices—such as grant selection details and the meaning of “underresourced”—to later decisions by federal officials.
  • The new office has a wide range of duties but only three employees specified; the bill does not explain how it will carry out all of them or what that will cost.
  • The programs and honoraria depend on appropriations, so the bill’s authorization amounts do not ensure that the planned activities or payments will be funded.
  • Award criteria would recognize progress toward aspirational goals, but the bill does not set specific outcome measures beyond requiring criteria to address the listed areas.