The NOAA Education Council was formed on January 2003 as an outgrowth of a recommendation made by the NOAA Science Advisory Board's Subcommittee on Education, by recommendations derived from the NOAA Program Review Team process, and out of a growing recognition of the need for a formal, yet internal Education Council. The Council consists of 15 senior staff members of NOAA’s Line, Program and Staff Offices. Their primary responsibility is to serve as a forum in NOAA for the discussion of ideas and proposals for NOAA-wide education and outreach activities and priorities and make recommendations to NOAA management on all aspects of NOAA’s educational activities. Council members represent their Offices’ interests and activities dealing with education and outreach programs and serve as the key contact on all issues affecting their organizations' interests. The Education Council is staffed by NOAA’s Office of Education and Sustainable Development and meets at least quarterly.

NOAA has many educational and outreach programs that serve the interests of NOAA’s diverse missions and legislative authorities. Education and outreach efforts are directed at students from kindergarten through college, teachers that deal with NOAA science related subjects such as oceanography and meteorology, NOAA’s many constituents from sanctuary users to commercial fishermen, and also the general public potentially affected by storms and other natural disaster. Partnerships with other relevant organizations are key to the success of NOAA’s programs stretching dollars and expertise to its fullest. The purposes of conducting education and outreach are therefore as diverse as the programs managed by NOAA. Consequently, the messages, the media, and the impacts vary.

Because every Line Office in NOAA deals with education and outreach in one form or another, NOAA through its strategic planning program has developed a cross-cutting priority dealing with goals to attain towards environmental literacy, outreach and education. The Education Council helps to provide input into the goals as well as help to monitor achievements associated with the implementation of NOAA’s Strategic Plan and NOAA’s Education Strategic Plan goals. As education and outreach and support for environmental literacy continue to increase in importance to our society, members of the NOAA Education Council will serve an important role in helping direct NOAA’s efforts along the right path.

Documents for Review--COUNCIL MEMBERS: CLICK HERE FOR MEETING DOCUMENTS.
	July 14, 2004 - Meeting will be held in Silver Spring from 2-5pm.
	June 16, 2004 - Meeting will be held downtown from 3-5pm.
	May 19, 2004 - Meeting will be held in Silver Spring from 1-4pm.
	April 21, 2004 - Results of NEC presentation of Ed Plan and Policy, Review of constituent round table and stakeholders meeting, Ed Implementation Plan, PPBES planning phase update, responding to the Ocean Commission recommendations.
	March 17, 2004 - PPBES FY07 planning begins, FY06 program decisions for education, Draft Ed Policy to be presented to NEP 3/18/04, Ocean Commission Update, Upcoming Education Constituent Roundtable 4/15/04 and NOAA Stakeholders Meeting 4/16/04.
	February 3, 2004 - Updates: Final input to programming phase of PPBS complete, Education Plan being externally reviewed, Draft Ed Policy to be presented to NEP 2/19/04, Ed Training Wkg Group report; Discussion of draft Ed Policy, Dates for upcoming Council meetings
	January 13, 2004 - Final PPBS review; NEP approves Education Strategic Plan for external review
	December 16 & 17, 2003 - Education Project Design and Evaluation Training Workshop
	November 19, 2003 - PPBS Process, Fiscal Guidance Issued; Education Strategic Plan, Final Discussion; Draft Response to Ocean Commission; Revised Terms of Reference; Presentation by Kevin Coyle of the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation
	October 20 , 2003 - Minutes will be posted soon.
	October 17, 2003 - Minutes will be posted soon.
	October 15 , 2003 - Minutes will be posted soon.
	September 16, 2003 - Education Constituent Roundtable Review;Prebrief for Ed Roundtable with VADM. Lautenbacher; PPBS Process; Education Strategic Plan
	Education Roundtable hosted by VADM Lautenbacher September 10, 2003
	August 12, 2003 - Education and PPBS; Annual Guidance Memo; Education and Outreach Inventory;NOAA Education Program and Strategic Plan
	March 17, 2003 - Education Council web site; Office of Science and Technology Education Council; NOAA Plan for Environmental Literacy, Outreach and Education
	January 22, 2003 - Council Terms of Reference; Education Database; Education and Outreach Funding; Education Strategic Plan