Ask your state legislators to urge the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee to bring forward climate education legislation.
Public education learning standards in Massachusetts lack sufficient foundations in climate change, which has created wide variation in how the subject is taught, if it is taught at all. This sets our students back in their ability to fight what will be a defining cause of their lifetime. Despite wanting to bring climate change education into the classroom, many teachers and school districts lack the support and resources to bring climate learning into the classroom.
Massachusetts students deserve access to high-quality climate education, and the Senate Ways and Means Committee has an important opportunity to advance action on this issue right now. Urge your Senator to weigh in with Committee Leadership and support immediate action to ensure schools across the Commonwealth can expand climate education opportunities for students.
Personal messages and stories are the most effective way to reach decision-makers. Consider sharing your own experience with climate education, youth engagement, or why ensuring students learn about climate change matters to you.
Please note: this form only accepts responses from Massachusetts residents.
The bill is designed to help Massachusetts schools integrate climate education across multiple subjects while providing funding, guidance, and an equity focus for implementation.
Key points:
- It creates a new Interdisciplinary Climate Literacy Trust Fund to pay for curriculum development, teacher training, technical assistance, and sharing of best practices related to climate education.
- The fund could receive state appropriations as well as private grants and donations, and money would remain available year to year rather than expiring annually.
- The bill defines “interdisciplinary climate literacy” broadly — integrating climate education into subjects such as science, math, arts, history, civics, government, and social sciences.
- It establishes a 10-member advisory council including youth leaders, educators, environmental justice representatives, climate experts, and environmental education organizations.
- The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would develop guidelines for district climate literacy plans.
- School districts could create climate literacy plans covering:
- causes and impacts of climate change,
- environmental justice,
- climate policy solutions,
- climate activism and civic engagement,
- identifying credible climate information,
- and effective communication and decision-making around climate issues.
- The bill prioritizes funding and support for:
- underserved districts,
- environmental justice communities,
- economically disadvantaged students,
- and districts implementing climate literacy programs for the first time.
- Plans must involve youth input and provide culturally competent instruction, including support for English language learners.
- DESE would have to submit an annual public report on how funds were spent and which districts benefited.