{"data":{"id":"us-mi/mich.-comp.-laws-324.2511","jurisdiction":"us-mi","citation":"Mich. Comp. Laws § 324.2511","heading":"Designation as \"green school\"; environmental stewardship designation; criteria; approval or rejection of application.","body":"Sec. 2511.\n\n(1) A public or private school in this state may apply to be designated as a \"green school\" by submitting an application to the entity designated under subsection (4) by the county in which the school is located. A school is eligible to receive a green school, emerald school, or evergreen school environmental stewardship designation under this section if the school or students perform the required number of activities, with a minimum of 2 activities from each of the categories described in subsection (2), as follows:\n\n(a) Green school - 10.\n\n(b) Emerald school - 15.\n\n(c) Evergreen school - 20.\n\n(2) The activities in the following 4 categories qualify toward an environmental stewardship designation under this section:\n\n(a) Recycling category, which includes the following activities:\n\n( i ) Coordinating a program for recycling at least 2 of the following: office paper, plastic, metal cans, printer cartridges, newspapers and magazines, cellular telephones, cardboard, fabric and clothing, compact discs and digital video discs, or glass.\n\n( ii ) Composting food and organic wastes.\n\n( iii ) Conducting a waste-free lunch program.\n\n( iv ) Implementing a policy to buy recycled, biodegradable, locally produced, or less toxic food and school supplies.\n\n(b) Energy category, which includes the following activities:\n\n( i ) Offering at least 1 teaching unit on alternative energy.\n\n( ii ) Using alternative energy, renewable fuels, or specialized energy-efficient technology in school operations.\n\n( iii ) Implementing a school energy-saving program.\n\n( iv ) Performing energy audits at student homes and educating student families and the community.\n\n( v ) Taking part in a project or event to promote improved vehicle fuel efficiency.\n\n( vi ) Sponsoring an alternative energy presentation, project, or event.\n\n(c) Environmental protection category, which includes the following activities:\n\n( i ) Participating in activities promoting the health of the Great Lakes watershed.\n\n( ii ) Offering a teaching unit on environmental issues facing this state.\n\n( iii ) Establishing or maintaining a natural Michigan garden project with native plants.\n\n( iv ) Establishing or maintaining an animal habitat project.\n\n( v ) Participating in a local community environmental issue by activities such as letter-writing, attending public hearings, raising funds, or community outreach.\n\n(d) Miscellaneous category, which includes the following activities:\n\n( i ) Adopting an endangered or threatened species and publicizing the activity.\n\n( ii ) Hosting an environmental or energy speaker, event, or field trip.\n\n( iii ) Establishing a student organization that participates in environmental activities.\n\n( iv ) Observing earth day by participating in an earth day event in April.\n\n( v ) Maintaining an updated bulletin board or kiosk with information on environmental concerns and the school's actions in addressing those concerns.\n\n( vi ) Establishing an eco-reading program.\n\n( vii ) Updating the school's media center environmental materials.\n\n( viii ) Visiting internet sites that educate about the environment and support endangered ecosystems.\n\n(3) In addition to the activities described in subsection (2), a school may design and propose another activity, which may qualify toward an environmental stewardship designation under this section if the entity designated under subsection (4) approves the activity by December 1 of the applicable school year.\n\n(4) A county shall designate a department of the county or the intermediate school district of the county to accept, consider, and approve or reject an application under subsection (1).","path":["MI Code","Chapter 324","Act Act-451-of-1994"],"source_url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-324-2511","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:31Z","sha256":"2db24b392c1cd9a4816751e62f5ea55821fcdc2a7dc8ff6f1993441ce2d02d1c","source_id":"us-mi","stale":false,"prev":"us-mi/mich.-comp.-laws-324.2505","next":"us-mi/mich.-comp.-laws-324.2601"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}