Spurred through the Governor’s office, the “ACT Relating to establishing a comprehensive initiative to increase learning opportunities and improve educational outcomes in climate science literacy” is now commonly referred to as ClimeTime. Responding to the governor’s stated climate education priorities, E3 Washington, a statewide environmental education association and the Association of Education Service Districts, convened a series of stakeholder meetings to inform and fine tune the priority into a concrete structure and focus for funding, working in collaboration with the Governor’s policy office and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

The initial budget request of $6.5 Million for science and climate education was reduced to $4 million during the appropriations process in the State Senate and House, and continued as a $3 million investment for the 2019-2020 biennium. In 2021, the Washington State Legislature allocated $6 million for the 2022-23 biennium, bringing the total program funding to $16 million. 

The funds are directed to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for teacher professional development to implement Next Generation Science Standards including those related to climate science and healthy environments. The program earmarks $1M of the $4M for a grant program for schools to partner with nonprofit organizations for program implementation. Grants have been awarded to each of Washington’s 9 educational service districts, and to 7 community-based organizations throughout the state.