National Environmental Education Training Program

The purpose of the National Environmental Education and Training Program is to deliver environmental education (EE) training and long-term support to formal and non-formal education professionals across the U.S. in the development and delivery of en

The National Environmental Education and Training Program provides environmental education (EE) training and long-term support to formal and non-formal education professionals across the United States, bolstering their ability to effectively teach about environmental issues in formal and non-formal settings.

Assistance under this program is available to universities, non-profit organizations, or a consortium of such institutions to deliver environmental education training and support for education professionals. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Policy on the Competition of Assistance Agreements.

Education (0-8), education (9-12), education (13+), public nonprofit institutions and private nonprofit institutions.

Funds shall be used to establish an education and training program which shall include, at a minimum: (1) classroom training in environmental education and studies including environmental sciences and theory, educational methods and practices, environmental career or occupational education, and topical environmental issues and problems; (2) demonstrations of the design and conduct of environmental field studies and assessments; (3) development of environmental education programs and curricula, including programs and curricula to meet the needs of diverse ethnic and cultural groups; (4) sponsorship and management of international exchanges of teachers and other educational professionals between the United States, Canada, and Mexico involved in environmental programs and issues; (5) maintenance or support of a library of environmental education materials, information, literature, and technologies, with electronic as well as hard copy accessibility; (6) evaluation and dissemination of environmental education materials, training methods, and related programs; (7) sponsorship of conferences, seminars, and related forums for the advancement and development of environmental education and training curricula and materials, including international conferences, seminars, and forums; (8) supporting effective partnerships, networks, and the use of distant learning technologies; and (9) such other activities as the Administrator determines to be consistent with the policies of the National Environmental Education Act, Section 5. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial

Under the teacher training program, environmental education funds may not be used for the following: 1) technical training of environmental management professionals; 2) environmental information and/or outreach projects that have no additional education component; 3) advocacy promoting a particular point of view or course of action; 4) lobbying or political activities as defined in 2 CFR Part 200.450; 5) non-educational research and development; or 6) constructions projects--EPA will not fund construction activities such as the acquisition of real property or the construction or the substantial modification of any building. Use restrictions are outlined in the NOFO. This program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis. A discretionary award means an award in which the Federal awarding agency, in keeping with specific statutory authority that enables the agency to exercise judgement ("discretion"), selects the recipient and/or the amount of Federal funding awarded through a competitive process or based on merit of proposals. A discretionary award may be selected on a non-competitive basis, as appropriate. For further information, please contact the Headquarters or regional office.

The training program consists of an initial one-year budget and project period. Subsequent incremental funding on an annual basis may be awarded for the next four years, for a total budget and project period of five years.

Regarding pre-application assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the NOFO. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed in the NOFO.

Priorities for selecting applications are listed in Section 5 of Public Law 101-619, National Environmental Education Act. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will also be described in the NOFO.

For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the NOFO. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.

The deadline for submitting applications for this program is specified in each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Approximately 180 days from the receipt of applications, through selection and notification, development and approval of work plans, to the awarding of funds.

Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to the Environmental Education and Stewardship Division's program priorities, and the availability of funds. Extensions are subject to EPA approval.

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-competition-dispute-resolution-procedures. Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.