BVSD is thrilled to offer a new diploma endorsement to sustainability-minded BVSD students beginning this year.
The Seal of Climate Literacy, established through Colorado Senate Bill 24-014, is a new high school diploma endorsement that connects educational knowledge with the real challenges and opportunities that climate change brings to each of our communities. It offers students a chance to engage directly with issues that impact their local environment and communities through coursework and hands-on learning.
According to Dr. Ghita Carroll, Sustainability and Energy Officer for BVSD, attainment of the Seal of Climate Literacy at BVSD will illuminate the ways students in BVSD show their commitment to sustainability, the environment, and climate literacy in our community during their time as BVSD students.
The Climate Literacy will be awarded to graduating high school students who are proficient in climate literacy. Climate literacy means an understanding of the essential principles of the earth's climate system, assessing scientifically credible climate information, learning to communicate about the climate in a meaningful way, and making informed and responsible decisions regarding action that may affect the climate.
In order to earn the climate literacy seal, BVSD students must demonstrate high proficiency in both climate literacy and a commitment to sustainability and the environment in the community, according to the approved criteria.
These include completing all the standard BVSD graduation requirements, as well as:
- showing proficiency in climate literacy by completing a high school science course
- an additional course that incorporates climate literacy
- and completing an experiential learning project related to a local climate problem
In BVSD, this experiential learning project consists of a portfolio of activities that illuminates students' "green trailway" in BVSD. Different kinds of activities can include additional coursework and certifications, volunteer or internship work, co-curricular or extra curricular activities, and/or leadership related to their local climate problem. Students will demonstrate their commitment and learning in a final showcase in the spring.
“The Climate Literacy Seal is a perfect fit for BVSD students, since it naturally aligns with our greenBVSD efforts. It also leverages Grad+ (BVSD’s career and college readiness framework) and BVSD partner relationships,” BVSD Science Coordinator Erin Greenwood explained. “We are committed to creating opportunities for every student to graduate with climate literacy and college and career readiness.”
According to Greenwood, BVSD is building upon the foundational framework for the Seal developed by the State to create a customized endorsement that also reflects BVSD’s sustainability goals, particularly related to incorporating student voice in its climate action work, a commitment of the Green New Deal resolution. Specifically, the BVSD Green Youth Council will be involved with finalizing the criteria for earning BVSD’s Seal.
“This project is an innovative, multi-dimensional approach to the design and implementation of the Colorado Seal of Literacy paired with greenBVSD sustainability outcomes,” Greenwood commented.
Purpose for offering the Seal of Climate Literacy in BVSD
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BVSD seniors graduating this year will have the opportunity to earn the climate seal, and students grades 6-11 can start defining their green trailway toward achieving the climate seal upon graduation.
For more information about the BVSD Seal of Climate Literacy, please visit the climate literacy webpage.
BVSD students interested in having a voice in BVSD’s implementation of Colorado’s Seal of Climate Literacy, should apply to join the BVSD Green Youth Council should submit the form below or email: erin.greenwood@bvsd.org.
greenBVSD Green Youth Council (GYC) Invitation Form
BVSD high school students get a head start on meeting the criteria for the Colorado Seal of Climate Literacy by organizing eco-events
Late last month, students from the Monarch High School Eco-Club organized a Climate Resiliency Summit at the school. Representatives from five BVSD high schools attended, including students and teachers, totalling about 40 people. The event was also supported by several BVSD partners including Play Boulder and Classrooms for Climate Action.
One of the student event organizers, Ashna Shah, Co-President of the Eco-Club at Monarch High School and member of the BVSD Sustainability Advisory Board said she was excited about connecting efforts around nature-based solutions with the efforts of climate that are going on all over the State, including the new Seal of Climate Literacy.
“If we join together we can make change that is exponentially greater, and has a much larger impact. Collective action is instrumental in helping to address the climate crisis,” Shah commented.
She went on to say she hopes climate literacy can be integrated into more classes and subjects than just science, including social studies, language arts and economics because climate change is an interdisciplinary issue.
Mateo, a Fairview High School student and summit attendee, hosted a similar event last spring at Fairview. This year, he said the Fairview Institute is organizing an environmental education campaign called “Box to the Future.” The goal is to create educational programming for 8th graders in BVSD.
Mateo shares Shah’s excitement about the Seal.
“I think it’s huge! Climate literacy is where it all starts. This is especially important because it’s statewide, and everyone in Colorado can have a chance to receive it,” he commented.