Monmouth University was awarded a grant for climate education through the Expanding Access to Climate Change and NJ Student Learning Through Climate Change Learning Collaborative Grant. This $300,000 award will fund professional development activities for NJ teachers and students. The Monmouth University CCLC aims to prepare NJ K-12 teachers to teach climate change in developmentally appropriate ways across all grade levels and subject areas. Monmouth Conservation Foundation, NJ Sea Grant Consortium, and the Urban Coast Institute will offer place-based curriculum and experiential learning opportunities while Monmouth University will offer professional development related to climate science, interdisciplinary instruction, and special interest topics related to climate change.
The Learning Collaborative is lead by Dr. Michelle Schpakow of the School of Education with Dr. Catherine Duckett of the School of Science and Dr. Peter Jacques of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences as Co-PI’s. The grant provides for a comprehensive program of professional development opportunities to teacher in NJ schools. The Climate Change Learning Collaborative website advertises these opportunities and has a repository of climate change teaching resources. The Climate Change Learning Collaborative also cooperates with partner school systems to deliver content at their schools and to host a symposium where teachers and students can showcase the learning and projects undertaken in the last year. A photo gallery of last year’s symposium is below. The grant runs through March 31, 2026. For more information and for video on the program see the Monmouth Climate Change Learning Collaborative website.
