Sec. 302. Federal interagency coordination on environmental literacy
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The Secretary of Education shall coordinate environmental literacy activities between the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Commerce, including by carrying out the activities described in subsection (b). In coordinating environmental literacy activities, the Secretary of Education shall— assess current Federal environmental education programs, goals, and budget items across agencies; assess environment-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to as eSTEM ) achievement to demonstrate that learning about and in the environment is an effective strategy for increasing engagement in learning and academic achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to as STEM ) subject areas; and produce adaptable environmental literacy plan guidelines and identify coordinated resources across Federal agencies that States and local educational agencies can follow as States and local educational agencies work to develop environmental literacy plans and programs of their own.
The Secretary of Education shall appoint an advisory panel of stakeholders, including representatives from State educational agencies, local educational agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that are engaged in local environmental literacy efforts representing the geographic, economic, and cultural diversity of the country, who shall meet quarterly to advise and support interagency planning and assessment regarding environmental literacy activities. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Education, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Commerce shall prepare and submit a joint report to Congress containing information about the coordination of environmental literacy activities between Federal agencies.