Aiming for Platinum Certification

What is required for Platinum Certification?

Platinum represents the highest level of EcoSchools certification. For schools to certify at the Platinum level, they must illustrate that their environmental program is well-established and that environmental learning and action is a defining element of school culture. Their program must display strong student leadership, extend beyond the school walls, and include extensions connecting actions to broader topics.

As such, the following additional application criteria is a requirement for schools to achieve this level of recognition:

Accumulation of 101 or more points through completion of Actions in the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA). A school’s final points are also dependent on a full assessment of the school’s application by an EcoSchools Assessor. Points may be adjusted (added or removed) based on verification against the Certification Rubric.

Satisfactory completion of the Platinum Eligibility Questionnaire. The Questionnaire automatically pop-ups in the ECA for any school whose Plan includes enough actions to potentially accumulate 101 or more points. The deadline for Questionnaire completion is last Friday in February. Satisfactory completion of the Questionnaire will direct schools toward Platinum eligibility, whereas unsatisfactory completion will direct schools toward Gold eligibility (please see below for details).

Participation in a 30-minute school visit with an EcoSchools Assessor between mid-January and early June, if required. Note that only a portion of Platinum-eligible schools will be required to attend a virtual school visit each year. However, if a Platinum-eligible school is contacted for a visit, participation is required to certify at the Platinum level (see here for more on school visits).

Fulfilment of the Program Elements as described in the Certification Rubric. A Platinum level EcoSchools program must fulfill all program elements: EcoTeam, EcoCode, Environmental Learning, Environmental Action, Student Leadership, Whole-School Engagement, Staff Collaboration, Community Reach, Extensions, Communication & Visibility, and Application Completeness. Platinum certification is awarded to schools that demonstrate a well-established, outstanding program where environmental learning and action is a defining element of school culture and extends beyond the school walls.

Please refer to the Certification Rubric for a breakdown of how the Platinum level is assessed.

The Platinum Questionnaire

What is the Platinum Eligibility Questionnaire and how does it work?

Specifically, schools must satisfactorily complete the Platinum Eligibility Questionnaire before the last Friday in February. The goal of this questionnaire is to ensure that schools are aware of the program elements necessary for Platinum Certification, have taken the necessary steps to build a well-established environmental program, and are ready to take on this exciting challenge.

  • The Questionnaire is built into the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA). 
  • The Questionnaire will automatically pop-up in the ECA for any school whose Plan includes enough actions to potentially accumulate 101 or more points. 
  • Only Staff Member users will see the pop-up. Student users will not see the Questionnaire.
  • If your school is aiming for Platinum, please ensure you have enough actions in your plan to be eligible for Platinum ahead of the Questionnaire deadline (if not, the Questionnaire will not appear). Click here to review how to add actions to your plan.
  • Schools are encouraged to complete the Questionnaire at their convenience. The survey will reappear at every login until it is submitted or the Questionnaire deadline passes. Once submitted, responses to the Questionnaire cannot be changed.
  • The Questionnaire reflects assessment criteria as described in the Certification Rubric. Satisfactory completion of the Questionnaire before the last Friday in February will direct schools toward Platinum eligibility, whereas unsatisfactory completion will direct schools towards Gold eligibility.
  • Please note: Only the questionnaire must be completed by the February deadline. The final application deadline for all schools remains the second Friday in May.

The Platinum Eligibility Questionnaire includes the following questions:

1.

After reviewing the Certification Rubric, is your school planning to pursue Platinum certification this year?

2.

Rigour: Does your environmental program have well-established processes to plan for action and measure environmental impact (e.g., through an EcoCode, newsletters, announcements, etc.)?

3.

Collaboration and Reach: Is your environmental program visible throughout the school and communicated to the broader school community (e.g., through an EcoCode, newsletters, announcements, etc.)?

4.

Student leadership: Is student voice, inquiry, and leadership integrated into all, or most, aspects of your environmental program (e.g., student representatives on EcoTeam)?

5.

Extensions and reflection: Does your school explore and connect environmental action to broader topics, issues, or movements (e.g., a local cause, the climate justice movement, or reconciliation)?

6.

If contacted, do representatives of your EcoTeam agree to participate in a 30 minute virtual visit with EcoSchools Assessors between mid-January and early June?

7.

Please briefly describe the role of EcoSchools and/or environmental learning and action within your school culture.

Please contact programs@ecoschools.ca if:

  • Your school does not satisfactorily complete the Questionnaire before its deadline but still believe you should be considered for Platinum certification.
  • Your school is aiming for Platinum but cannot access the Questionnaire for any reason.