This problem based learning project details what no study to date has addressed by determining Missouri public school leaders' adherence to recommended state guidelines for environmentally sound practices for schools. To begin this study, the project team developed a problem statement as the primary guiding principal for this project: To what extent do Missouri public school superintendent's comprehend, use, implement, and support the Missouri Green Cleaning Guidelines and Specifications for Schools? The project report also sought to understand what leadership practices, if any, correlated to superintendent's implementation of suggested practices. Understanding these questions is crucial in assisting the promulgation of healthy learning environments.

To answer these questions, the project team sought guidance and suggestions from established experts in the field of environmental sustainability. With expert guidance, the project team surveyed all Missouri superintendents to determine their degree of comprehension, use, implementation, and support of the Missouri Green Cleaning Guidelines and Specifications for Schools. The survey garnered 140 unique responses providing significant insight into districts' environmentally sustainable practices.

The project team's analysis of survey responses determined that few superintendents understand, use, or have implemented the recommendations found in the Missouri Green Cleaning Guidelines and Specifications for Schools. The survey data also revealed that while superintendents valued the Guidelines and Specifications, this appreciation did not translate into the application of suggested practices. Moreover, the data disclosed a distinct preference for the values of the Healthy Schools Campaign over Missouri's Guidelines and Specifications. The outcome of the project resulted in a number of recommendations including the creation of information sharing seminars, development of healthy environment awards and incentives, and the establishment of a "distinction list", which distinguishes a district's efforts to become a healthy learning environment.