Environmental education (EE) courses and programs offered in grades K-12 in Hamilton County (Ohio) public, private, and parochial schools were surveyed by means of a questionnaire mailed to 67 district level administrators, principals, and teachers. Questionnaires were returned from 5 private, 4 parochial, and 27 public schools, representing a 57 percent response rate. Findings indicate a varied approach to EE in the Hamilton County schools. In terms of E. P. Hart's key characteristics of environmental education (1981), the local programs show evidence of being interdisciplinary, multilevel, and values clarifying. In addition, they: (1) have present and future orientation; (2) encourage activity participation and a team approach to teaching/learning and individualized learning; (3) provide productive student-teacher relationships, personal responsibility, and grouped interaction; (4) are community-oriented; (5) provide field studies; and (6) show flexible administrative organizational patterns. When evaluated in light of Hart's characteristics, they also show a lack of education process development, systems thinking, and urban field studies. In addition, little attempt at teacher education in EE concepts and issues was noted. One recommendation offered is to emphasize such areas as human population, urban ecology, marine education, energy consumption, and land use management in EE curricula. (JN)