Assessing Teachers Needs for Environmental Education Services.

A needs assessment was conducted by graduate students in the Environmental Education Program Development course (FOR 6934), at the University of Florida to serve two purposes: (1) to provide guidance for program improvement to the Crown Region Environmental Education Service Project (RSP), and (2) to provide students with experience in developing tools and designing strategies to conduct program evaluations. After establishing an appropriate framework, the students conducted five focus groups and mailed 500 surveys to a random sample of school contacts. The return rate was 25%; a follow-up survey to non-respondents indicates there is no significant difference between respondents and nonrespondents. The survey indicates that teachers hold positive attitudes toward environmental education (EE), include elements of citizenship and action taking in their definition of EE, but have relatively little contact with the RSP. Teachers' perspectives on EE also differed widely as a function of the school administration and educational philosophy. Recommendations are offered to improve RSP's publicity and to enhance future classes that undertake similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]