The environmental literacy and sustainable and climate-resilient schools movement in California is transitioning between laying foundational elements for broad-scale change and moving toward taking implementation to scale in every school across California.

Foundational components include buy-in at the grassroots and decision-making level, policy change, early implementation pilot investments and projects, cohesion of state-wide networks, etc. During this scaling implementation stage, it is critical to use an equity-informed, data-driven approach to accelerate advancement, with the intention of prioritizing those who have been the most underserved and those who are experiencing the most environmental injustice.  

The data will inform decision-making, policy change, early implementation pilot projects, and create cohesion of state-wide networks. Our intent is to catalyze and strengthen investments in school communities’ environmental and climate initiatives from the grassroots level on up. The data initiative will also be used by Ten Strands and other partners to identify where technical assistance support services can be enhanced to support districts and county agencies.

The data in this initiative can be used in a number of strategic ways that include, but are not limited to: 

• Statewide Analysis: The data supports research, policy, and advocacy efforts as it provides patterns and trends of action and inaction, and it shows to what extent action is taking place in regions with those who are most marginalized or experiencing the highest levels of environmental injustice. The data initiative also provides vital information about supportive context indicators that may be critical for catalyzing and institutionalizing environmental change. Additionally, it can be used to analyze where strategic investments can be made to spur environmental action at schools and beyond.  
• Local Implementation: The data included in this project are also useful for local implementation. They help to identify entry points to further engage school communities with environmental and climate action and can identify potential regional partnerships. 

This data initiative will serve as a leverage point across the state to identify the current conditions for advancing a whole systems approach to whole school sustainability and increasing climate literacy.