MSDE Standards

The Environmental Literacy Instructional Programs COMAR outlines these standards as follows:

A. Every local school system shall offer a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary environmental literacy program integrated into the current curriculum and aligned with the Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards.

B. The Maryland Environmental Literacy Program must:

(1) Provide an age-appropriate instructional program with outdoor learning experiences.

(2) Foster students' knowledge, confidence, skills, and motivation to make informed decisions and take actions that safeguard and preserve Maryland's unique natural resources, including those of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

(3) Address diverse student needs, abilities, and interests, spanning early, middle, and high school years. The program must incorporate all of the Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards, as set forth in §C of this regulation.

C. Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards:

1. Environmental Issue Investigation and Action. Environmentally literate students will investigate environmental issues, developing and implementing local initiatives to protect, sustain, or restore the natural environment.
2. Human Dependence on Earth Systems and Natural Resources. Environmentally literate students will construct and apply their understanding of how Earth's systems and natural resources support human existence.
3. Environmental Impact of Human Activity. Environmentally literate students will construct and apply their understanding of the environmental impact of human activities on Earth's systems and resources.
4. Consequences of Environmental Change on Human Health and Well-Being. Environmentally literate students will construct and apply their understanding of the consequences of human-induced environmental changes on individual and collective health and well-being.
5. Individual and Collective Responses to Environmental Change. Environmentally literate students will construct and apply their understanding of individual, collective, and societal responses to human-induced environmental change.

In accordance with the Environmental Literacy COMAR, all students are entitled to participate in the comprehensive environmental literacy program mandated by this policy. The state of Maryland remains committed to ensuring that environmental education reaches every student, allowing them to develop the knowledge and skills needed to become environmentally responsible and informed citizens.