Healthy School Environments
More than 53 million children spending a significant portion of their day in the classroom, poor indoor air quality can pose health risks in schools for both students and staff and lead to asthma attacks, decreased performance and diminished concentration.
AASA began its work on healthy school environments and indoor air quality in 1992 and continues to work with school districts across the nation to elevate the importance of a healthy school environment. Poor indoor air quality is a serious risk to children’s health and academic performance. To prepare schools for children, this program promotes holistic improvements to the school environment, while educating students and staff. Funded through a cooperative agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, AASA provides outreach, technical assistance, national presentations, training opportunities, virtual seminars and other resources through this project.
AASA Healthy School Environment Resources
View a list of resources generated from AASA’s effort to support school leaders committed to creating healthy school environments.
Additional Healthy School Resources
Learn about resources available from other organizations and government agencies working to increase awareness of this issue among school leaders.
What's New?
AASA Superintendent Issue Briefs--The six challenges discussed in AASA's Putting the Pieces Together publication have been further analyzed into six Superintendent Issue Briefs. Each brief focuses on a particular challenge’s impact on indoor environmental quality. Click here for a PDF or email children@aasa.org for a hard copy.
Spring/Summer 2010 Urban and Rural Healthy Schools Coalition Newsletter-- Click here for the latest edition which recaps AASA's Urban and Rural Healthy Schools Coalition Meeting in Memphis, Tenn. The newsletter also features resourses requested at the meeting, including EPA IAQ presentations, EPA School Chemical Cleanout Campaign contacts, an example chemical management plan, IAQ Jeopardy game, etc.
Putting the Pieces Together: A School Leader's Guide to Healthy Indoor Environments-- Putting the Pieces Together is an interactive document that introduces the school community to six common challenges that may be encountered when implementing and sustaining a healthy indoor environmental plan/program: 1) Maintaining strong leadership, 2) Dealing with overcrowding, 3) Increasing awareness and prioritizing IEQ, 4) Implementing effective communication strategies, 5) Overcoming financial barriers, and 6) Creating networking opportunities. Click here for the PDF version, and email children@aasa.org to request a hard copy.
Superintendent Issue Briefs--There are six common challenges to achieve school indoor environmental quality: 1) Maintaining strong leadership, 2) Dealing with overcrowding, 3) Increasing Awareness and Prioritizing IEQ, 4) Implementing effective communication strategies, 5) Overcoming financial barriers, and 6) Creating networking opportunities. Each challenge is further analyzed in its own Superintendent Issue Brief to explain its impact on IEQ. For the Superintendent Issue Brief on Leadership, click here.
Winter 2010 Urban and Rural Healthy Schools Coalition Newsletter--Click here for the latest edition of the coalitions' newsletter featuring a recap of the 10th Annual EPA IAQ Tools for Schools Symposium, a summary of the rural coalition's virtual conference, Integrated Pest Management article and resources, a spotlight on urban coalition members, and an introduction to new members of the rural coalition. Please contact Yasmin Bowers at ybowers@aasa.org for more information on how to join AASA's Urban or Rural Healthy Schools Coalition.
Congratulations UHSC members: Memphis City Schools, the School District of Philadelphia, and Spokane School District 81!--AASA would like to recognize Memphis City Schools and the School District of Philadelphia for being part of 5 featured school districts for the 10th Annual EPA Tools for Schools Symposium (January 14-16, 2010). In addition, Memphis City Schools (MCS) is the recipient of a 2009 EPA Tools for Schools Leadership Award, and Spokane Public Schools is the recipient of the 2009 EPA TfS Model of Sustained Excellence Award.
Building Success, Leading Change: Stories of Healthy School Environments-- The latest edition of this publication explores the parallels between urban and rural school districts that have successfully implemented and sustained a healthy learning environment by addressing indoor air quality. Read how the North East Independent School District of San Antonio, Texas and Auburn City Schools of Auburn, Alabama have become successful in achieving a healthy school environment. Click here to get the latest edition, or contact Yasmin Bowers, ybowers@aasa.org, for a hard copy.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Resource Collection
This Resource Collection provides school system leaders with a comprehensive list of facts, resources, policies, case studies and specific steps to take to improve IAQ.
Green Schools and Indoor Air Quality PresentationAASA Healthy School Environments has released a new slideshow presentation, "Green Schools and Indoor Air Quality--Improving efficiency and health."The presentation is an educational tool for healthy school environments.The information on these slides address the state of indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy usage within schools. In addition, these slides address how environmentally-friendly initiatives can exist within an IAQ management program.
This tool is made available to school district leaders who can share it with their staff as they continue efforts to ensure a safe, healthy, and energy efficient school environment.We have made this tool available in several formats to meet your needs.
Check out the YouTube video OR View and Download a PDF
AASA Offers Customized Indoor Air Quality Programming
Do you need to improve the indoor air quality of the schools in your district? Are you looking to direct your staff to reliable assistance and training in pest management, HVAC standards and proper maintenance? Do you know what choices to make to ensure that your students’ learning environments are the best suited for active engagement, asthma control and improved test scores? AASA offers its members and their district staff technical assistance, information and networking opportunities proven to help school districts start and sustain customized indoor air quality programs. Complete the Indoor Air Quality Technical Assistance Form (PDF) for individualized assistance and information for your district.
Staff Contact:
Yasmin Bowers
703-875-0759
ybowers@aasa.org