PSEG Offering School Grants for Environmental Partnerships

PSEG and the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education submitted the following news release: 

Do you have a creative idea for a partnership between non-formal environmental education providers and K-5 pre-service or practicing teachers?  The PSEG Foundation and the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE) will be awarding a total of $45,000 in competitive grants to help increase the sustainability of New Jersey communities, through the “PSEG-ANJEE Learners in Sustainability (PALS)” grant program.

“We are pleased to be entering the second year of our grant partnership with PSEG,” said ANJEE President Dale Rosselet. “This is an excellent opportunity for educators to work collaboratively to enhance science instruction and environmental literacy in the Garden State.” 

The goal of the PALS grant program is to create partnerships between non-formal environmental education providers and K-5 pre-service or practicing teachers. Successful partnerships will provide teachers with the knowledge, skills, and curricular materials to implement high-quality environmental education in their teaching year, using the 2009 NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS) in Science and authentic assessment methods.

Eligible applicants can include public, private and charter elementary schools; colleges and universities with teacher education programs; informal education facilities and institutions, such as museums, zoos, nature centers and parks; after-school and early childhood education programs; and consultants, businesses and corporations.

Examples of projects that could be funded are: teacher institutes sponsored by a nature center or museum; programs introducing pre-service teachers to sustainability and environmental education and high quality science education; or partnerships between non-formal institutions and after-school programs, environmental or science clubs, or other school-affiliated programs. Recipients of the 2011 PALS grants included Tenafly Public Schools, Princeton Regional Schools and the Educational Information & Resource Center in Gloucester County.

Grants of $5,000-$15,000 are available in each of three New Jersey regions. The request for proposals and application form are posted at www.anjee.net/PALS. Deadline for applications is March 15, 2012.

The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1985. Its goals include facilitating the improvement of environmental education efforts and providing a structured network for developing and conserving New Jersey’s natural habitat and resources. ANJEE members include classroom teachers, professors and administrators in colleges and universities, environmentalists in museums, zoos and nature centers, and professionals in governmental agencies and corporate settings. 

PSEG (NYSE: PEG) has a long tradition of caring for New Jersey’s people and communities. Each year, the energy company and its employees invest millions of dollars and thousands of hours to improve the quality of life in New Jersey. The company’s culture dictates that service to customers and community go hand-in-hand. For more, visit www.pseg.com.