Michigan Green Schools

The Michigan Green Schools program was established as a statewide program by Michigan’s Public Act 146 of 2006. It operated as an independent 501c3 organization for 15 years and is now housed within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Environmental Education Program.

Michigan Green Schools is dedicated to assisting all Michigan schools public and private achieve environmental goals that include protecting the air, land, water and animals of our state through promotion of good ecological practices and environmental stewardship by students pre-kindergarten through high school.

Award Levels

The Michigan Green Schools Program encourages public and private schools to participate in environmentally friendly and energy savings activities.

A school achieving 10–14 of the listed activities can apply to be designated a Michigan Green School.
A school achieving 15-19 of the listed activities can apply to be designated a Michigan Emerald School.
A school completing 20 or more of the listed activities can apply to be designated a Michigan Evergreen School.

Applications can be submitted starting January 1st and are due by March 1st annually.

Emerald Status Schools

Evergreen Status Schools

Green Status Schools

2022/2023 Michigan Green Schools Application

The History of Oakland County’s Michigan Green Schools Program

This program began as a grassroots initiative at Hartland High School in Livingston County in 2005. This effort resulted in Governor Jennifer Granholm signing Public Act 146 into law in May of 2006, with Public Act 301 of 2010 expanding the program.

Oakland County became involved with this program in the 2007-2008 school year, and awarded the Michigan Green School designation to 45 public and private schools during the first year. Oakland County had more schools participate than any other county in the state.

In 2008-2009 Oakland County partnered with Oakland Schools and more than doubled the number and awarded the Michigan Green School designation to 98 public and private schools. Thirty-two of those schools attained the higher designation of Emerald status.

In 2009-2010 Oakland Schools took the lead on this project with Oakland County's help. Since then the program has been going strong!

The 2019-2020 school year was the 13th year of the Oakland County Green Schools program and a total of 121 schools participated. 17 schools were designated Green schools, 22 were designated Emerald schools for participating in 15 - 19 activities and 82 schools were designated Evergreen, the highest designation, for participating in 20 or more activities.

2021-2022 is the 15th year that Oakland County has participated in the Michigan Green Schools program. Eight schools have participated all 15 years:

Beverly Elementary, Birmingham
Lincoln Street Alternative High School, Birmingham
Pierce Elementary, Birmingham
Clear Lake Elementary, Oxford
Our Lady of Sorrows
North Hill Elementary, Rochester
Jane Addams Elementary, Royal Oak
Oak Ridge Elementary, Royal Oak

How can your school become a Michigan Green School?

Michigan Green Schools participate in two activities from each of the categories below:

Reduce/Reuse/Recycle Category

Coordinate a program for recycling at least two of the following: office paper, plastic, metal cans, printer cartridges, newspapers and magazines, cellular telephones, cardboard, fabric and clothing, compact discs and digital video discs, glass, or other product
Composting food and organic wastes
Conducting a waste-free lunch program
Implementing a policy to buy recycled, biodegradable, locally produced or less toxic food and school supplies

Energy Category

Offer at least one teaching unit on alternative energy
Using alternative energy, renewable fuels or specialized energy-efficient technology in school operations (district-wide mandates)
Implement a school energy-saving program; specific actions taken at your school
Perform energy audits at student homes and educating student families and the community
Taking part in a project or event to promote improved vehicle fuel efficiency
Sponsoring an alternative energy presentation, project or event

Environmental Protection Category

Participate in activities promoting the health of the Great Lakes watershed
Offer a teaching unit on environmental issues facing this state
Establish or maintain a natural Michigan garden project with native plants or vegetables; grown produce is used in teaching units or donated to the community organization
Establish or maintain an outdoor animal habitat project
Participate in a local community environmental issue by activities such as letter-writing, attending public hearings, raising funds or community outreach

Miscellaneous Category

Sponsor an endangered or threatened species and publicize the activity.
Host an environmental or energy speaker, event or field trip
Establish a student organization that participates in environmental activities
Observe Earth Day by participating in an Earth Day event in April and/or America Recycles Day in November
Maintain an updated bulletin board or kiosk with information on environmental concerns and the school's actions in addressing those concerns
Establish an eco-reading program
Update the school's media center environmental materials
Visit internet sites that educate about the environment and support endangered ecosystems
Create an active website, school-wide broadcast, Public Service Announcement, or documentary addressing environmental issues facing the State
Coordinate an exchange or drive to collect used or unwanted items within the school or community for re-purpose

Contact the Oakland Schools Michigan Green Schools Coordinator