H.R. 3036 would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding environmental education.

== Detailed Summary ==

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No Child Left Inside Act of 20072008 - Amends the Elementary and SecondaryNational Environmental Education Act of 1965(the Act) to authorize statesadd to use federal funds forthe minimum functions and activities required of grantees under the Environmental Education and Training program, which trains educational professionals in the development and delivery of kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) plans for environmental education and teacher training to ensure that high school graduates are environmentally literate. training.

Requires such grantees to: (1) create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development, in addition to classroom training; (2) ensure that their environmental education programs and curricula are aligned with challenging state and local academic content standards and advance the teaching of interdisciplinary courses that include strong field components; (3) bring teachers into contact with working environmental professionals; (4) provide environmental education distance learning programs for teachers using curricula that are innovative, content-based, and based on current, scientifically valid research; (5) encourage individuals traditionally underrepresented in environmental careers to pursue postsecondary degrees toward such careers; (6) establish programs to prepare teachers to provide environmental education professional development to their colleagues and programs to promote outdoor environmental education activities as part of the regular school curriculum; (7) include summer workshops or institutes for elementary and secondary school environmental education teachers; and (8) encourage mid-career environmental professionals to pursue environmental education careers.

Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive matching grants to nonprofit organizations, states, LEAs, or IHEsFY2009 appropriations for activities to improve and support environmental education that include: (1) advancing content and achievement standards; (2) developing or disseminating innovations or model programs; (3) research; and (4) creating new funding sources. the National Environmental Education program.

RequiresAuthorizes the Secretary of Education to give priority in providing magnet school assistanceaward competitive, matching, one-to-three-year grants to LEAs creatingnonprofit organizations, states, local educational agencies, municipalities, or enhancinginstitutions of higher education for activities to improve and support environmental education that include: (1) advancing content and achievement standards; (2) developing or disseminating innovations or model programs; (3) research, particularly on integrating environmental education in the study of other subjects; and (4) capacity-building measures to increase the number of elementary and secondary environmental magnet school programs.education teachers.

IncludesRequires state grantees to have peer-reviewed state environmental education inliteracy plans or develop state environmental literacy plans that describe: (1) how the current program providing grantsstate will measure student environmental literacy; (2) programs of professional development to statesimprove teachers' environmental knowledge and LEAs for teacher training.teaching skills; and (3) how the plan will be implemented. Allows non-state grantees to use their grants to develop state environmental literacy plans, provided they consult with the state.

AmendsConditions a grantee's continued receipt of funds, after the Departmentfirst year of Education Organization Acta multi-year grant, on its reporting annually to create an Office of Environmental Literary to advance K-12 environmental educationthe Secretary on its grant-assisted activities and administer the new grant programs.success of such activities measured in accordance with the evaluation and accountability plan which each grantee is required to formulate prior to receiving such grant.

AmendsSets the National Assessmentfederal share of Educational Progress Authorization Act to authorizegrant program costs at 90% for the Commissionerfirst year, 75% for the second year, and 50% for each subsequent year.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress, within one year of this Act's enactment, on activities assisted by such grants.

Authorizes FY2009 appropriations for the grant program.

Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Secretary, and the National Environmental Education Statisticsand Training Foundation to includeeach establish program quality indicators for those programs funded under the Act (other than certain fellowship awards) that they administer.

Requires such quality measures, at a minimum, to indicate whether a program or activity: (1) enhances understanding of the natural and built environment; (2) fosters greater appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of environmental educationissues; (3) increases achievement in any additionalrelated areas of national assessmentinterest, such as mathematics and science; (4) increases understanding of student achievement.the benefits of being exposed to nature; (5) improves understanding of the interaction of human and natural systems; and (6) broadens environmental awareness.

Directs recipients of funds under the Act to report annually on their progress in meeting such minimum quality measures.

Prohibits the Act from being construed or used to assert federal control over state and local educational decisions.
</summary>

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== Status of the Legislation ==

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Latest Major Action: 7/10/2008: Placed on10/2/2008: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 480.Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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