CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY

THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY ADVANCES CHANGE IN TK-12 EDUCATION AND SCHOOL FOOD SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO NOURISH THEM. WE CREATE ORIGINAL RESOURCES, COLLABORATE ON ADVOCACY, AND CULTIVATE A GROWING NETWORK OF LEADERS IN OUR CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS INITIATIVE. IN 2023, WE RECOGNIZED SCHOOL NUTRITION LEADERS WITH OUR BIANNUAL LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION AWARDS, SECURED STATE INVESTMENTS TO PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS WITH MORE FRESHLY-PREPARED AND LOCALLY-SOURCED MEALS, PUBLISHED A CULTURALLY RELEVANT FARM TO SCHOOL FRAMEWORK, SUPPORTED EDUCATORS WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND AMPLIFIED STUDENT VOICES. SEE SCHEDULE O - CONTINUATIONSCHOOL FOOD SYSTEMS CHANGE: THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY SUPPORTS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH FRESHLY-PREPARED, LOCALLY-SOURCED SCHOOL MEALS AND EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECT THE CLASSROOM, CAFETERIA, AND GARDEN. WE PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, AND INSPIRATION FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. IN 2023, OUR CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS NETWORK GREW TO 121 PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE, REACHING MORE THAN TWO MILLION STUDENTS AND IMPACTING MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE STATE'S SCHOOL MEALS SERVED ANNUALLY.ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION: WE EMPOWER EDUCATORS TO PROVIDE TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS ON THE FOOD SYSTEM AND SUSTAINABILITY. IN 2023, WE REACHED 150 EDUCATORS ACROSS THE US THROUGH OUR VIRTUAL "EATING, LEARNING, GROWING" WORKSHOPS ON CULTURALLY RELEVANT FARM TO SCHOOL EDUCATION. OUR NEW EATING LEARNING GROWING RESOURCES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP EDUCATORS EXTEND, ENHANCE, AND ENRICH FARM TO SCHOOL LESSONS TO BE MORE CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND ENGAGING FOR THE UNIQUE STUDENTS IN EACH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.POLICY AND ADVOCACY: WE ADVANCE POLICY SOLUTIONS, STEWARD SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION AT SCHOOLS, AND ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMS THAT CULTIVATE SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL COALITION, OUR ADVOCACY IN 2023 LED TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND PROTECTED THE CDFA FARM TO SCHOOL INCUBATOR GRANT PROGRAM. WE ARE PROUD TO SEE CALIFORNIA'S CONTINUED LEADERSHIP ON SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL AND COMPLEMENTARY INVESTMENTS TO SERVE MORE FRESHLY-PREPARED AND LOCALLY-SOURCED MEALS TO STUDENTS. IN THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE STATE'S UNIVERSAL MEALS PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA OUTPACED OTHER STATES' DECLINING PARTICIPATION BY SERVING 826 MILLION MEALS - TWO MILLION MORE THAN IN THE LAST PRE-PANDEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.