The Green Schools Initiative was founded in 2004 by parent-environmentalists who were shocked by how un-environmental their kids’ schools were and mobilized to improve the environmental health and ecological sustainability of schools in the U.S. We believe it is essential to protect children’s health – at school and in the world beyond school – and we work to catalyze and support “green” actions by kids, teachers, parents, and policymakers to eliminate toxics, use resources sustainably, create green spaces and buildings, serve healthy food, and teach stewardship. We are working to leverage the schools sector to transform the school environment – and the markets that supply schools – to improve health and sustainability. Using the Precautionary Principle as our policy foundation, we are advocating that school boards and state policymakers develop comprehensive action plans and build the local capacity to implement these plans. We are starting our efforts with schools throughout California; we collaborate with and support organizations and individuals in other states and nationally.