Publicly-Funded Schools
A sustainable future begins at every EcoSchool
Certifying as an EcoSchool is an incredible opportunity for your students to join a global movement of over 19 million environmental leaders around the globe. It sets the stage for students and educators to learn about climate change, engage in sustainable solutions, develop skills, and form partnerships in their school communities. Whether you’re certifying for the first time, or pursuing your tenth year of Platinum certification, your school is supported by a comprehensive framework of and curriculum-linked resources to help you every step of the way.
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For a summary of how the EcoSchools certification program works, visit our What is Certification? page.
Registration for the 2023-2024 school year is now open.
What’s new for the 2023-2024 school year?
From coast to coast to coast, we are excited to welcome schools for another year of fun and impactful environmental learning and action! To get you started this year, here are a few key reminders and updates:
- Certification Guide – a great starting place for the program!
- Updated requirements for schools pursuing Platinum certification. Read more here.
- See the Certification Rubric, for a clear understanding of what we take into account when assessing school applications.
- New actions include: Extend Your Action and School to School Mentorship. Search for these actions in the ECA Library!
- Along with certification seals that schools receive at the end of the school year, schools can also receive achievement badges.
This year we have the Project 2050 badge. Visit the campaign web page to learn more.
- Ongoing and upcoming campaigns! See the Campaigns page for more details and inspiration.
Is there a cost to certify?
All publicly funded schools in Canada can apply for EcoSchools certification free of charge. They also have access to bilingual resources, worksheets, contests, communications, webinars, and the online EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA). A small annual fee applies to independent schools who are pursuing certification.
Additionally, school boards/districts can choose to pay an annual fee that offers group administrator access to data and analytics about their schools, customized support from EcoSchools Canada staff, and more. Learn more about school board/district membership here.
Where can I find resources for certification?
Resources like worksheets, instructions, tracking sheets, and campaign kits now live inside the online EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA) attached to the action they relate to.