Analyzing the Extent to Which School X Meets Sustainability Standards and Goals set by the School District

Authors

  • Rachel Rose Pikesville High School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i3.4968

Keywords:

sustainability, case study, high school, comprehensive, Sustainability Assessment Tool

Abstract

                        The intensifying consequences of global warming have recently led to an increase of sustainability assessment tools (SATs) and interest in sustainability testing within local communities, institutions, and schools. This paper analyzes whether School X meets the sustainability goals and standards set by the overarching School System XYZ, which oversees thirty-eight high schools including this one. In order to measure this, a case study methodology, in cooperation with the University of California San Bernardino’s High School Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire (HSSAQ), was used to determine whether the school is meeting requirements set by the county. Collection of data and completion of this survey by the researcher revealed that School X is meeting sustainability standards and goals set by School System XYZ to a small extent, as only about one third (1/3) of quantifiable questions in the HSSAQ were answered “yes,” meaning the school is meeting that specific sustainability standard. This data should enable School System XYZ to continue sustainability research in the future, specifically in secondary schools throughout the school system.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References or Bibliography

AASHE. (2022, September 27). Stars, Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System. The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://stars.aashe.org/

AASHE. (2020, July 17). Higher Education Sustainability Assessment Frameworks Compared. AASHE Stars. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://stars.aashe.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Higher-Education-Sustainability-Assessment-Frameworks-Compared.pdf

Alshuwaikhat, H. M., & Abubakar, I. (2008). An integrated approach to achieving campus sustainability: Assessment of the current Campus Environmental Management Practices. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16(16), 1777–1785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.12.002

BCPS. (n.d.). Energy and Sustainability. Division of Business Services. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://bcpsbusinessservices.ss3.sharpschool.com/departments/facilities_management/facilities_support_services/energy_and_sustainability

Berzosa, A., Bernaldo, M. O., & Fernández-Sanchez, G. (2017, September 10). Sustainability assessment tools for higher education: An empirical comparative analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 161, 812-820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.05.194

Buytaert, V., Muys, B., Devriendt, N., Pelkmans, L., Kretzschmar, J.G., & Samson, R. (2011, October). Towards integrated sustainability assessment for energetic use of biomass: A state of the art evaluation of assessment tools. Elsevier, 15(8), 3918-3933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.036

Caeiro, S., Sandoval Hamón, L. A., Martins, R., & Bayas Aldaz, C. E. (2020). Sustainability Assessment and benchmarking in higher education institutions—A critical reflection. Sustainability, 12(2), 543. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020543

Chandratilake, S. R., & Dias, W. P. S. (2015). Ratio based indicators and continuous score functions for better assessment of Building Sustainability. Energy, 83, 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.02.007

Crowe, S., Cresswell, K., Robertson, A., Huby, G., Avery, A., & Sheikh, A. (2011). The case study approach. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-11-100

EAUC. (n.d.). Audit Instrument for Sustainability in Higher Education (AISHE). Sustainability Exchange. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk/audit-instrument-for-sustainability-in-higher-educ

Findler, F., Schönherr, N., Lozano, R., & Stacherl, B. (2018, December 22). Assessing the Impacts of Higher Education Institutions on Sustainable Development—An Analysis of Tools and Indicators. MDPI, 11(1)(59). https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010059

Gibson, R. B. (2006). Sustainability assessment: Basic components of a practical approach. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 24(3), 170–182. https://doi.org/10.3152/147154606781765147

Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI). (1996, March). ISO 14001 EMS Self-Assessment Checklist. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://growthorientedsustainableentrepreneurship.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/mn-iso-14001-ems-self-assessment-checklist.pdf

Jacquot, C. W. (2003). The sustainable school: A sustainability assessment questionnaire for high schools. Thesis Digitization Project, (2475), 65. CSUSB ScholarWorks. Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2475/

Maroochy Waterwatch Inc. Maroochy Waterwatch Inc RSS. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.maroochycatchmentcentre.org.au/catchment/?page_id=627

Nguyen, B. K., & Altan, H. (2011, December). Comparative Review of Five Sustainable Rating Systems. ResearchGate, 21, 376-386. 10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.2029

Shriberg, M. (2002). Institutional assessment tools for sustainability in higher education: Strengths, weaknesses, and implications for practice and theory. Higher Education Policy, 15(2), 153–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0952-8733(02)00006-5

Tools. Sustainable Schools. (2022, November 7). Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://sustainschools.org/resources/tools/

ULSF. (2009). Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire. ULSF. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://ulsf.org/sustainability-assessment-questionnaire/

United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainability. United Nations. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/sustainability

Urquiza Gómez, F., Sáez-Navarrete, C., Rencoret Lioi, S., & Ishanoglu Marzuca, V. (2015). Adaptable model for assessing sustainability in Higher Education. Journal of Cleaner Production, 107, 475–485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.047

Winston, A. (2022, January 6). Sustainable business went mainstream in 2021. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from https://hbr.org/2021/12/sustainable-business-went-mainstream-in-2021

Published

08-31-2023

How to Cite

Rose, R. (2023). Analyzing the Extent to Which School X Meets Sustainability Standards and Goals set by the School District. Journal of Student Research, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i3.4968

Issue

Section

AP Capstone™ Research