§205. Environmental Education Section; staff; powers and duties; cooperation; funding

            A. There is hereby created, within the state Department of Education, the environmental education section which shall assist the commission and perform responsibilities relative to education as provided for in this Subpart. Insofar as funds are appropriated, staff may be employed under the direction and control of the state superintendent of education and in accordance with policies of the department.

            B. The section shall implement the provisions of this Subpart relative to environmental education, including the following:

            (1) Receive advice and guidance on the administration and implementation of environmental education programs from the commission.

            (2) Design plans for K-12 environmental education in the state regularly, with the assistance of the commission.

            (3) Implement, administer and evaluate a grants programs benefiting K-12 students, graduate researchers, professional development, and other initiatives supporting environmental education.

            (4) Promote and aid in the establishment and assessment of elementary and secondary school environmental education programs.

            (5) Promote and aid in the development of pre-service and in-service environmental education programs for environmental educators, formal and non-formal, through cooperation with the Board of Regents and the state's colleges and universities.

            (6) Cooperate with state and federal agencies and the private sector in developing, promoting, conducting, and evaluating programs of environmental education.

            (7) Function as an environmental education clearinghouse by doing the following:

            (a) Reviewing and recommending environmental education resources.

            (b) Establishing an electronic capacity to disseminate databases of environmental education information, formal and non-formal, and to network with interstate and federal programs.

            (c) Cooperating with state and federal agencies and organizations in the development and distribution of an environmental education newsletter.

            (8) Promote the development of cooperative environmental education initiatives with the private sector.

            (9) Initiate, develop, implement, assess, and market non-formal environmental education programs; assess environmental education curricula; promote state government and private sector policy that is consistent with the environmental education strategic plan; and coordinate non-formal environmental education with elementary, secondary, and postsecondary environmental education programs.

            (10) Coordinate environmental education conferences to assist in the dissemination, development, and achievement of the state's environmental education goals.

            C. Repealed by Acts 2022, No. 16, §3.

            Acts 1995, No. 322, §1; Acts 2011, No. 265, §1, eff. July 1, 2011; Acts 2018, No. 509, §1; Acts 2019, No. 238, §1; Acts 2020, No. 317, §2; Acts 2022, No. 16, §§1, 3.

NOTE: Former R.S. 30:2506 redesignated to R.S. 17:205, Acts 2020, No. 317.