(Updated 2/19) Special Report, Part I: The "Greening" of the Little Red Schoolhouse

Green schools generally are considered to be facilities that are constructed, renovated or retrofitted in ways that save energy, resources and money, and contribute to healthy learning environments for students.

But now it appears that implementing green school principles on a national scale may serve to counteract the national recession. That is the reason President Barack Obama has proposed spending some $10 billion for school modernization as part of his economic stimulus plan.

In anticipation of the expected surge of national activity related to green schools, School Grants 2009 offers this paper as the first in a series exploring key issues that state and local education officials may encounter as they consider the feasibility and desirability of embarking on their own green school projects.

Part II of the series examines the options open to schools interested in going green.