This 2019 act requires the Governor of Maryland to include the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) into the state budget for fiscal years 2021-2025. The bill mandates $1.6 million in spending over five years to support the Maryland Green School program with the goal of increasing the number of green schools in the state from 27% to 50% by 2025. 

The MAEOE developed the Green Schools Program, which allows schools and their surrounding communities to evaluate their sustainability efforts. Schools that participate in the program are dedicated to equipping youth to make changes to reduce their environmental impact, encourage sustainability, and foster environmental literacy. The funding for this act will go through the MAEOE who will funnel the money into the Maryland Green Schools Award Program, which schools and educational centers can apply to.

In 2022 the Maryland general assembly extended the grant distribution to fund the program through 2028

For additional funding information, click here.