Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Climate Change Learning Collaboratives
In 2024, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) established regional Climate Change Learning Collaboratives (CCLCs) at four institutes of higher education through a competitive grant opportunity. The NJDOE is pleased to announce the continuation of the CCLCs initiative for a second year.
From June 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, the CCLCs will provide New Jersey public schools with free professional development, technical assistance, experiential learning opportunities, and networking opportunities to aid in their implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards supporting climate change education across all nine content areas. New Jersey public schools are encouraged to seek guidance and support for their climate change education initiatives from their regional CCLC and to visit their CCLC’s website, found below, to register for upcoming events.
Each CCLC is comprised of an interdisciplinary project team from the institute of higher education and their community-based nonprofit organization partners. They will provide New Jersey public schools with the following services, free of charge, from June 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026:
- Professional development (stipends offered to educators) and technical assistance covering:
- Climate change subject knowledge and climate justice issues.
- Identifying, developing, and implementing interdisciplinary, project-based unit plans.
- Creating and identifying locally focused experiential learning opportunities for students.
- Relevant technology, teaching tools, self-assessment tools, and evaluation strategies.
- Identifying and applying for external grants and certifications.
- Establishing green teams and developing sustainability plans.
- Green and blue career awareness and related workforce development opportunities.
- Experiential learning opportunities for educators (stipends offered) and students that extend climate change education beyond the classroom, providing opportunities to interact with local ecosystems.
- Networking and collaborative opportunities, including:
- Dedicated time at events for innovating with fellow educators.
- An email listserv or cloud-based collaboration site for virtual networking and resource sharing.
- A CCLC culminating conference showcasing the climate change education initiatives of New Jersey public schools.
Ramapo College of New Jersey Climate Change Learning Collaborative (CCLC)
- Region: Northern
- Counties Serving:
- Bergen
- Essex
- Hudson
- Morris
- Passaic
- Sussex
- Warren
- Register for Upcoming Events: CCLC Website
- CCLC Email Address: ClimateCollaborative@ramapo.edu
- Community-Based Nonprofit Organization Partners:
- City Green
- Great Swamp Watershed Association
- Meadowlands Environment Center
- The New Jersey School of Conservation
Rutgers University – New Brunswick Climate Change Learning Collaborative (CCLC)
- Region: Central
- Counties Serving:
- Hunterdon
- Middlesex
- Somerset
- Register for Upcoming Events: CCLC Website
- CCLC Email Address: ClimateChangeEducation@docs.rutgers.edu
- Community-Based Nonprofit Organization Partners:
- Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership
- New Jersey Audubon
- Raritan Headwaters Association
Monmouth University Climate Change Learning Collaborative (CCLC)
- Region: Central
- Counties Serving:
- Mercer
- Monmouth
- Union
- Register for Upcoming Events: CCLC Website
- CCLC Email Address: MUClimateEducation@monmouth.edu
- Community-Based Nonprofit Organization Partners:
- Monmouth Conservation Foundation
- New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium
Stockton University Climate Change Learning Collaborative (CCLC)
- Region: Southern
- Counties Serving:
- Atlantic
- Burlington
- Camden
- Cape May
- Cumberland
- Gloucester
- Ocean
- Salem
- Register for Upcoming Events: CCLC Website
- CCLC Email Address: ClimateLearning@stockton.edu
- Community-Based Nonprofit Organization Partners:
- Center for Aquatic Sciences
- New Jersey Audubon
- Save Barnegat Bay
- Sustainable Jersey
- The Wetlands Institute