Michigan Laws 324.2503 – Coordinator of environmental education; appointment; responsibilities
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
|
Other versions
The department shall appoint a coordinator of environmental education within the department of natural resources. The coordinator’s primary responsibilities shall be to do the following:
(a) Coordinate the efforts of the department related to environmental education.
Terms Used In Michigan Laws 324.2503
- Commission: means the commission of natural resources. See Michigan Laws 324.301
- Coordinator: means the coordinator of environmental education provided for in section 2503. See Michigan Laws 324.2502
- Department: means the director of the department of natural resources or his or her designee to whom the director delegates a power or duty by written instrument. See Michigan Laws 324.301
- Department of natural resources: means the principal state department created in section 501. See Michigan Laws 324.301
- Environmental education: means the teaching of factual information regarding the natural environment, including basic sciences, ecological sciences, agricultural sciences, and other relevant subject matter, and the interdisciplinary process of developing a citizenry that is knowledgeable about the total environment and has the capacity and the commitment to engage in inquiry, problem solving, decision making, and action that will assure environmental quality. See Michigan Laws 324.2502
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
(b) Work with the department of education and with local education institutions, not-for-profit educational and environmental organizations, broadcasting entities, and private sector interests to support development of curricula, special projects, and other activities to increase understanding of the basic sciences and of natural resources and the environment.
(c) Provide technical assistance to school districts, schools, and educators wishing to undertake projects including, but not limited to, water quality, air quality monitoring, or habitat protection.
(d) If an environmental education advisory committee is established pursuant to section 2504, coordinate with the department in staffing the advisory committee.
(e) Provide assistance to the commission in implementing statewide environmental education strategies developed by the department and the department of education.
(f) Assist in identifying grants or other sources of funding for innovative educators and students of environmental education.
(g) Recommend the appropriate mechanism for establishment of a clearinghouse of environmental education materials, which would make environmental education materials available to educators throughout the state.
(h) Provide or support existing training and professional development programs for educators.
(i) Assist in the incorporation of environmental education into curriculum objectives for the state’s elementary and secondary schools and develop appropriate assessment mechanisms.
(j) Promote awareness of section 1171a of the school code of 1976, Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1976, being section 380.1171a of the Michigan Compiled Laws.