Calling All Kentucky Teachers, Administrators, and Environmental Education Providers to Participate in Regional Landscape Analysis for EE
Elizabethtown, Ky., April 18, 2023 – The Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) is encouraging school and district administrators and formal educators who work in the PreK-12 setting, as well as environmental education providers, to participate in a survey as part of a regional landscape analysis conducted by the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEA).
This analysis is designed to gain an enhanced understanding of environmental education providers and schools in the southeastern U.S. that are working towards similar goals. It will identify gaps and barriers to access that prevent successful implementation, and provide recommendations and next steps for increasing environmental literacy efforts in the southeast and accelerating the impact of environmental education in PreK-12 schools.
Through surveys, the analysis will gather data from PreK-12 schools and environmental education providers in the eight SEEA states. In fall of 2023, the data collected will be shared in a comprehensive analysis of environmental education offerings in the region, along with the gaps and barriers that exist in both formal and non-formal settings for students of all ages in these areas. These findings will also help provide opportunities for schools to partner with service providers to advance SEEA’s collective efforts toward environmental literacy.
To date, SEEA has surveyed over 500 schools and 600 environmental education providers. Based on findings from the analysis, several recommendations were identified for Kentucky environmental education providers, some of which include increasing the diversity of environmental education staff and leadership to better reflect the demographics of the state, addressing inequities in pay and benefits for environmental education, providing professional learning and resources to classroom teachers, and addressing gaps in services found across the state.
“This analysis will shine a light on environmental education, not just in our state but in the entire southeast region, and serve as a blueprint for future strategic planning,” said Ashley Hoffman, Executive Director of SEEA. “We strongly encourage members of our education community to take some time to complete this survey. By doing so, they are providing us with the information to shape the future of environmental education in the southeast.”
Educators and administrators can take the survey by visiting southeastee.org/survey.
###
About the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education: Since 1976, the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) has been at the forefront of environmental education in Kentucky, promoting and advocating for environmental education at the national and state levels. KAEE's membership includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, including teachers, administrators, government and agency personnel, business and industry representatives, and private citizens. In 2022, KAEE reached 1,268 educators and impacted over 31,000 students through its programs, events, workshops, webinars, and other educational offerings.