Becoming a Wisconsin Green & Healthy School

The Green & Healthy Schools Program consists of three steps:

• Pledge
• Discovery and Inventory
• Action and Implementation

Upon completion of all three steps, your school can apply for recognition as a Wisconsin Green & Healthy School. Use this Checklist [PDF 139KB] to help guide you through the Green & Healthy School program.

Step 1

The first step on the road to a Green & Healthy School includes:

• becoming familiar with the program
• forming a Green & Healthy team
• indicating your school's commitment by signing a pledge
  [Learn More...]

Step 2

In the second step, Discovery and Inventory, students, teachers and school staff conduct self-assessments to determine what healthy and environmentally sound practices are already in place. The assessments address facilities, operations, curriculum and community involvement. After the required Step 2 Assessments are completed and the minimum Green & Healthy School requirements are met, your school submits verification that they have completed this step. [Learn More...]

Note: As of February 1, 2010, the requirements for Step 2 have changed. Please make note of these changes on the Step 2 web page.

Step 3

As part of the third step, Action and Implementation, your school uses the results from the Step 2 Assessments to determine how well it is doing and where it can improve. Then, using criteria presented in the Green & Healthy School Requirements Chart, you can develop and implement various action projects. After the minimum criteria are met and targeted areas of improvement are accomplished, your school can apply to become a Wisconsin Green & Healthy School. [Learn More...]

Optional Aspect

Schools can achieve even higher standards by participating in the Reaching Higher Step. As part of this step, schools conduct assessments and implement actions for topics not completed in their original Green & Healthy School application.