On PBS Earth Day Week: L.A. Charter School in Running for Obama Speech

Environmental Charter High School in “Growing Greener Schools” on PBS Earth Day week

April 17, 2010 - Los Angeles, Calif. – Los Angeles-based Environmental Charter High School (ECHS), which is on the short list to have President Obama speak at its commencement this year, is in an upcoming documentary program on PBS.  The program, Growing Greener Schools, singles out ECHS as one of the nation’s most innovative schools for integrating the environment into its core curriculum to inspire its largely low-income and limited English proficient students to become actively engaged in civic issues.

Last week President Obama congratulated ECHS for demonstrating effective approaches to teaching, learning, and preparing students to graduate ready for college and a career.  ECHS is one of six finalists selected by the White House and Department of Education from over a thousand applications to compete for a presidential commencement address from Obama.   

The only environmental school among the six Race To The Top Commencement Challenge finalists, ECHS is a leader in America’s ‘green schools’ movement. Last year, the California Board of Education cited ECHS as a successful model for reducing achievement-gaps in California's K-12 public education system, and has helped fund distribution of ECHS-developed instructional modules to other schools across the state.  ECHS’ Green Ambassadors program, which empowers youth to become agents of change in their communities by working on critical environmental issues, is being implemented at ten other schools. Our ‘green curriculum’ hits close to home in poor communities that are disproportionately affected by problems like poorer air quality due to their proximity to industrial sites,” says Alison Suffet-Diaz, Founder & Executive Director of Environmental Charter Schools.   “When inner-city youth realize they can make a difference it inspires them to achieve academically and go on to college.” 

Growing Greener Schools, produced by Academy and Emmy Award-winning film makers of the Santa Monica-based Media & Policy Center, kicks off Earth Day week with a national television event broadcast on PBS member stations nationwide. 

Los Angeles area broadcasts include:  KOCE, Los Angeles/Hungtington Beach, Sunday, April 25 at 10pm; and KVCR, Los Angeles/San Bernadino Friday, April 30 at 7pm.  National premier broadcasts here.   PBS schedule here,

Environmental Charter High School (ECHS): (http://www.echsonline.org) is a public charter high school serving Lawndale and surrounding communities in south Los Angles. ECHS offers a rigorous college prep program that is made relevant by guiding students to critically examine and take action to solve environmental challenges in their local communities. With 92% of last year’s graduating class accepted into a four-year university, ECHS is one of the country’s highest performing public charter college prep schools and a model school for the country. ECHS and its Green Ambassadors program have been honored with the EPA Environmental Award, the California Service Learning Leader Award, the California Charter Schools Dissemination Grant, and Green Teacher of the Year Award. 

Become a Fan of ECHS on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawndale-CA/Environmental-Charter-High-School/322675152446.  

Follow ECHS on twitter at: http://twitter.com/envirocharter