A Kentucky Green and Healthy School has the following attributes:

• A team of students, teachers and school
  administrators who work together to provide
  safe, healthy learning areas
  
• A building that operates at high performance
  levels for natural resource conservation and
  sustainability
  
• An outdoor area used for authentic,
  place-based education
  
• Closes the student achievement gap using the environment as an
  integrated learning context
  
• Extends into the community encouraging environmentally-friendly
  practices at home, work and play.

The Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools (KGHS) Program is a new, voluntary effort to empower students and staff with the tools needed to take action and make their school operate at peak efficiency. KGHS incorporates a two-pronged approach. New or renovated schools may include a “green and healthy” design from the start. Existing schools participate as students inventory current school operations and implement action plans to improve school health and sustainability. Recognition and awards are administered through the Kentucky Environmental Education Council in cooperation with the Kentucky Department of Education and the Green and Healthy Schools Task Force.