Advocacy is one of Ten Strands’ three strategic pillars, where we work at the state level to meet the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for environmental justice by catalyzing change through an innovative whole systems approach.
Our current advocacy efforts include the initiatives below that advance our mission to increase environmental literacy throughout the system of TK–12 public education in California.
Seeds to Solutions
WHAT: California invested in K–12 solutions-oriented instructional resources on climate change and environmental justice that empower students and prepare them to be engaged community members. These free groundbreaking instructional materials, Seeds to Solutions, will be available for the 2025-2026 school year for each grade level.
Visit our 2024 Advocacy Page to learn more about our previous work with Senator Ben Allen and the San Mateo County Office of Education on this important initiative.
IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS: County Offices of Education (COEs) are the best bridge between state policy and district implementation. COEs are essential in helping districts, schools, and teachers create opportunities for students to develop environmental and climate literacy. Still, there are currently few sources of support to help COEs build the capacity to do this work.
BUDGET REQUEST: To support the widespread use of Seeds to Solutions, Ten Strands and SMCOE are requesting $10 million over three years to build upon the state’s initial investment in climate change education. We have a vision of developing statewide professional learning centered around these new instructional materials and, at the same time, building support for their widespread implementation.
GOALS FOR THE BUDGET REQUEST:
- Expand capacity across all 58 county offices of education to support districts and schools in delivering climate literacy.
- Develop a tiered network of counties, providing targeted support based on readiness levels.
- Ensure professional learning opportunities for educators to effectively teach climate-related topics.
STATUS: We are actively continuing conversations with key legislators, state agencies, and our partner, the San Mateo County Office of Education.
Visit our program page to learn more about Seeds to Solutions. Read more about the budget request on our fact sheet.
Climate-Resilient Schools Budget Request
WHAT: The Climate Ready Schools Coalition, led by Ten Strands and UndauntedK12, is requesting support to help school districts prepare for and respond to climate impacts. This funding will provide regional support and capacity building to advance climate-resilient, healthy, and efficient schools while maximizing existing state, local, and federal funding.
IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS: This investment will help schools proactively prepare for extreme weather, maximize funding opportunities, and implement long-term infrastructure improvements to ensure safe, healthy, and climate-resilient learning environments. Without this support, schools risk missed funding, increased closures, and costly emergency responses.
BUDGET REQUEST: We are requesting $10 million in state funding for a three-year grant program administered by the California Department of Education (CDE) to fund eleven regional Climate Resilient Schools Coordinators, support climate adaptation planning and implementation, maximize federal and state funding opportunities, and ensure safe, healthy learning environments for California students.
GOALS FOR THE BUDGET REQUEST:
- Establish regional Climate Resilient Schools Coordinators in each of the eleven COE regions to help districts access state school facilities funding and coordinate emergency response efforts with counties and local jurisdictions.
- Provide direct support for school districts facing extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding, and other climate emergencies, including maximizing federal clean energy tax credits.
- Develop region-specific planning tools to improve long-term school infrastructure resilience.
STATUS: This budget request was submitted to Governor Newsom and the legislature in December 2024. Advocacy efforts are ongoing to prioritize climate resilience in TK–12 schools in the 2025 budget.
Office of Public School Construction Proposition 2 Implementation
WHAT: The Climate Ready Schools Coalition, led by Ten Strands and UndauntedK12, is participating in the Office of Public School Construction’s (OPSC) stakeholder engagement process to finalize regulations for Proposition 2, the 2024 State School Bond, to drive district and state school facilities decision-making towards climate resilience, health, and safety.
IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS: Channeling the Proposition 2 implementation regulations towards climate readiness both for buildings and grounds would include prioritization around investments that align to climate ready principles and practices.
We recommend that OPSC and partner agencies maintain a centralized database that includes facilities information for school districts. Transparency and accountability at the local level can be supported by the facilities master plan process and the bond implementation to engage the community during the planning stage.
STATUS: A working group has been established to participate in the formal OPSC process to help influence school bond implementation for climate readiness.
Additional Legislation and Campaigns We’re Supporting
- School Garden Coalition (SB 391):Takes a critical first step in restarting and expanding California’s unused, unfunded Instructional School Garden Program to include instruction and maintenance, so school districts can integrate garden-based learning into the curriculum. Sponsoring Organization – Living Classroom
- Oppose Federal Cuts to School Meals: Supporting efforts to secure $150M in funding annually to continue operating the School Meals for All program and protect cuts to federal programs, including the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs to preserve access to free, fresh, and local school meals. Sponsoring Organization – Center for Ecoliteracy
- Extend CAL FIRE’s Green Schoolyards Implementation Grants for two years
- Building Decarbonization Cap + Trade Priorities