REL#11-58 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 19, 2011

CONTACT: Tina Jung PHONE: 916-319-0818 E-MAIL: communications@cde.ca.gov

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on Education and the Environment Initiative Curriculum SACRAMENTO State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement today regarding the Education & the Environment Initiative (EEI) Curriculum: The lessons that are used to teach our public school students must be free of undue influence by special interests, whether they represent industry or environmentalists. Our curriculum review process is designed to ensure all school materials are factually accurate, free of bias, and aligned with our states world-class academic standards. Todays report by California Watch raises questions about one minor section within one of 85 environmental curriculum units developed by the California Environmental Protection Agency. While this curriculum has been widely praised for its accuracy and fairness in addressing complex and controversial topics, I have asked my staff to work with CalEPA to identify any material where further review may be warranted. For more information on EEI, please visit the California Department of Educations Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/ee/. #### The California Department of Education (CDE) is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. For more information, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov or by mobile device at http://m.cde.ca.gov/. You may also follow Superintendent Torlakson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TorlaksonSSPI and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CAEducation.