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 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.

For further information about the NOAA Education Council please contact Luis Leandro.