October 20, 2006

The Department of Environmental Quality recently partnered with Detroit Public Schools to train more than 90 middle school teachers on portions of a new environmental curriculum known as the Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) program. Training was provided on three of the five MEECS units including Ecosystems & Biodiversity, Air Quality, and Energy Resources.

The MEECS materials were carefully created by a team of scientists, writers, teachers, environmental organizations, and business groups, and guided by DEQ in cooperation with the Department of Education.

"We are pleased to offer these materials to Michigan educators," said DEQ Director, Steven E. Chester. "We want to support Michigan teachers in their vital role of increasing our children's appreciation and understanding of Michigan's environment."

Since February 2006, approximately 1,700 educators have been trained on some portion of the MEECS materials. The five units - targeted to fourth through ninth grades - consist of the following: Air Quality; Ecosystems & Biodiversity; Energy Resources; Land Use; and Water Quality. MEECS is aligned with science and social studies content standards.

"I was able to connect directly with DPS teachers and they responded in large numbers," said Ellen Daniel-Jones, Middle School Science Supervisor, Detroit Public Schools. "I explained how we wanted to add Ecosystems & Biodiversity to the 6th grade curriculum. People asked to be included on whatever sessions we hold next."

MEECS materials have been delivered through workshops at no cost to educators through funding from the Clean Michigan Initiative. DEQ is seeking additional funding to continue to deliver MEECS as inexpensively as possible to Michigan's teachers.

More information on the MEECS program is available on DEQ's Web site at www.michigan.gov/deq-meecs, or call the Environmental Assistance Center, at 1-800-662-9278.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised October 20, 2006 by Pat Watson