School systems and local governments nationwide are beginning to see the importance of working together towards common goals, especially as it relates to sustainability. In Lane County, Oregon, a significant need emerged to foster sustainability education among K-12 students, aiming to cultivate environmentally conscious behaviors with help and support from the local government. This initiative sought to introduce waste reduction and recycling programs within schools, addressing a critical component of community sustainability.

The Challenge: The primary challenge was to develop a research-based strategy that could effectively measure the impact of sustainability education and identify the most efficient ways to implement such programs across diverse educational settings. Lane County required a robust framework that could not only assess current attitudes and behaviors towards recycling and waste reduction but also pave the way for meaningful, long-term change.

Step 1 – Initial Planning and Design: The first phase of the project involved an in-depth collaboration with Lane County staff to outline a comprehensive research design. This phase focused on establishing a clear set of objectives, identifying key metrics for success, and selecting the most appropriate experimental methods to collect data. The collaborative effort ensured that the project was grounded in scientific rigor while being tailored to the unique needs of Lane County schools.

Step 2 – Development of Instruments: With a solid research plan in place, Greater Good Consultants LLC deployed the Grant Evaluation Package to develop a suite of research instruments according to the research goals and objectives. These tools were meticulously crafted to capture a wide range of data, from student attitudes towards sustainability to the effectiveness of existing recycling programs happening in the District.

By adhering to the structured, step-by-step approach outlined in the Grant Evaluation Package, Greater Good Consultants LLC provided Lane County with the tools needed to make informed decisions about the future of sustainability education in their schools. The project then extended beyond these initial phases, as is often the case. The foundation through implementation of the Grant Evaluation Package was instrumental in guiding the County towards creating a more sustainable future for its students.

This case study exemplifies how Greater Good Consultants LLC’s strategic application of the Grant Evaluation Package can address complex educational challenges, paving the way for impactful community change. Through meticulous planning, inclusive instrument development, and a commitment to data-driven solutions, the project set a benchmark for integrating sustainability into education, demonstrating the transformative power of strategic grant evaluation.

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“Ashley and her team are knowledgeable, data-driven, and solutions focused consultants. Ashley did extensive qualitative research about our community of teachers before fine tuning a quantitative approach that identified big gaps in our understanding about what educators in our community wanted support on related to sustainability education. Her work was critical to identify areas where we could improve and support teachers.” – Angie Marzano, Lane County Waste Management Supervisor