The Windows on the Wild national environmental education program aims at increasing the environmental literacy of young people using biodiversity as an organizing theme and strengthening the links between schools and the nation's zoos, aquariums, nature centers, and other nonformal educational institutions. This report presents the findings of an assessment of the needs, thinking, and current practices of educators that was undertaken before starting the program. Surveys were administered to a national sample of middle school science and social science teachers and a national sample of educators from zoos, aquariums, nature/science centers, museums, and botanical gardens. A total of 2081 teachers and 708 nonformal educators responded to the survey. Results indicate that both formal and nonformal educators overwhelmingly support environmental education and think that it should be a priority in their institutions. The educators surveyed were enthusiastic about supporting programs that linked formal classroom education with experiential learning at nonformal institutions. The majority of teachers expressed a need for educational resources to help them incorporate biodiversity into their teaching programs. Appendices include survey methodology, teacher education and nonformal education surveys and results, and a draft biodiversity education framework. Contains 12 references. (JRH)