Unity Charter School Among NJ Recipients of Climate Change Education Grants

Morristown school awarded $15,000 as part of statewide effort to expand experiential climate change instruction through community partnerships.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Unity Charter School in Morristown is one of 24 schools across New Jersey to receive continued funding under the Climate Change Education and Resilience Through Interdisciplinary Learning (CCERIL) program, according to a statewide announcement by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). The school will receive $15,000 to support student-led climate resilience initiatives developed in partnership with local organizations or municipalities.

The CCERIL grant is part of a broader $2.37 million investment from the State’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget aimed at strengthening climate change education across New Jersey. This initiative is one element of a multi-year effort championed by First Lady Tammy Murphy, whose climate education campaign made New Jersey the first state to integrate comprehensive climate change instruction across K-12 content areas beginning in the 2022–2023 school year.

“New Jersey is leading the way when it comes to climate change instruction in our schools,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy, who in 2020 successfully advocated for New Jersey to become the first state to have its statewide learning standards integrate climate change instruction across multiple content areas, ranging from science to social studies. “Our goal is that each class of students will have a deeper understanding of how our actions affect our environment, so they can be prepared to take on the jobs of the green economy and build a stronger and cleaner New Jersey for future generations to enjoy.”

Grant Overview and Local Impact

The CCERIL grant allows recipient schools to continue developing interdisciplinary, hands-on learning opportunities that promote student engagement with real-world environmental challenges. Projects may include work on sustainability, energy conservation, coastal resilience, or food systems—each designed to build climate literacy and civic awareness among students.

In total, the CCERIL program distributed $359,996 statewide for its second year of funding. Unity Charter School, the only Morris County recipient listed, will use its $15,000 award to further enhance its existing climate education partnerships. Details about specific projects at Unity Charter were not included in the state’s announcement.

Two additional climate-focused grant programs were also included in the funding round:

• Climate Literacy for Community Resilience (CLCR): A new grant supporting seven communities, including two in Essex County—Belleville ($30,356) and Montclair ($30,500)—totaling $212,808. These partnerships will help students address community resilience challenges through locally driven environmental projects.

• Climate Change Learning Collaboratives (CCLCs): A continuation grant awarded to four higher education institutions, including Ramapo College of New Jersey ($600,000). These colleges will lead regional training programs to support K-12 teachers in implementing climate change education. The CCLCs received a total of $1.8 million and will operate through March 31, 2026.

Program Goals and Timeline

The overarching goal of these grants is to make climate change education more meaningful, impactful, and experiential by fostering cross-sector collaboration. Initiatives such as dune grass planting to combat beach erosion in Egg Harbor Township and aquaponic farming to address food insecurity in Dunellen exemplify how schools are turning classroom lessons into community action.

The CCERIL and CLCR grants will run through May 31, 2026, while the CCLC initiative concludes in March 2026.

For more information on New Jersey’s climate education initiatives, visit the New Jersey Department of Education website.