The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) cited three public schools today for their efforts with the environment, health and education by naming them 2013 Kentucky Green Ribbon Schools. The winners are:

  • Locust Trace AgriScience Farm, Fayette County
  • Cane Run Elementary, Jefferson County
  • Northern Elementary, Scott County

The schools will be recognized and presented with the 2013 Kentucky Green Ribbon School Award at the state’s Earth Day event April 22 at the Capitol Education Center, located on the grounds of the Kentucky State Capitol. The event, which will include environmental education booths and displays, will begin at 10 a.m. ET. The 2013 Kentucky Earth Day celebration is sponsored by the Office of the First Lady, the Energy and Environment Cabinet and the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

The Green Ribbon School Award is a comprehensive recognition of exemplary achievement in environmental impact, health and education. It recognizes schools where staff, students, officials and communities have worked together to produce energy efficient, sustainable and healthy school environments and to ensure the sustainability and environmental literacy of graduates.

A team of representatives from Kentucky agencies and programs dedicated to greener schools evaluated this year’s applications. Awards were based on high achievements or demonstrated improvements in three areas:

  • net zero environmental impact
  • net positive impact on health of students and staff
  • 100 percent of high school graduates environmentally and sustainability literate

This is the second year KDE has named Green Ribbon Schools. The state winners will also serve as Kentucky’s nominees for the U.S. Department of Education’s (USED’s) 2013 National Green Ribbon School Award which will be announced April 22. Kentucky, along with 40 other states and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education, are participating in the 2012-13 Green Ribbon Schools program. If selected for the national award, representatives from the winning school will be invited to a recognition ceremony that will be held in Washington D.C. on June 3.

More information about USED’s Green Ribbon Schools program is available here.