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Other EPA Schools Programs
EPA is dedicated to improving the school environment. The Healthy School Environments Website is a “one-stop shop” for resources and information on topics related to environmental health and safety in schools. Topics addressed include:
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The epa.gov/schools Website is a valuable resource to help schools manage environmental factors that can affect the school building and the health of its occupants. EPA’s many school-related initiatives include the following, discussed further below:
- Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool
- Mercury in Schools
- Clean School Bus USA
- ENERGY STAR ® for K-12 Schools
- SunWise
- Integrated Pest Management in Schools
- Asbestos in Schools
- Lead in Drinking Water: Schools and Daycare Centers
- Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign
Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT)
The Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool is a no-cost, comprehensive resource that school districts can use to evaluate their facilities for key environmental, safety, and health issues. The Tool includes fully customizable checklists to help schools conduct self-assessments and database software that allows schools to manage all aspects of their assessment programs.
- For more information and to download the Tool, visit www.epa.gov/schools/healthyseat/index.html.
The Schools and Mercury Website offers information and guidance for school administrators, faculty, staff, local health jurisdictions, and parent groups on how to reduce the hazards of mercury exposure in schools. EPA encourages schools to prevent spills by removing all mercury compounds and mercury-containing equipment and by discontinuing their use. The Program Website offers a variety of resources, including information on state-based mercury programs for schools, EPA’s Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3), and school case studies.
- For more information on mercury in schools, visit www.epa.gov/mercury/schools.htm.
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EPA launched the Clean School Bus USA Program in 2003 to address the condition of America’s aging
school bus fleet and the health effects that result from exposure to diesel exhaust emitted by idling school buses. EPA has provided grants
to many school districts to fund the replacement of old school buses with new buses that use cleaner fuels.
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ENERGY STAR ® for K-12 Schools
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In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program for K-12 schools offers
suggestions for simple building improvements that can help to reduce annual energy expenses by 25 to 30 percent. The ENERGY STAR
Website offers a variety of tools and information that can help schools check their buildings’ current energy performance and benchmark their buildings
over time to monitor energy use and savings.
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SunWise is a collaborative partnership between EPA, schools, and many other organizations committed to
educating the public about the dangers of exposure to the sun. The Program offers sample activities and ideas for elementary and middle
school teachers to promote sun safety practices at school and at home. These activities raise awareness of sun safety and the importance
of protection from harmful UV rays. The SunWise Website offers a Tool Kit of resources and ideas for SunWise activities, an Internet
Learning Site and UV database, and free educational materials (i.e., fact sheets, brochures, activity books, posters, newsletters) with
facts on safe sun practices.
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Integrated Pest Management in Schools
EPA’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program for schools offers voluntary guidance and tips for ways that schools can incorporate more environmentally sensitive building maintenance and pest control practices. The IPM in Schools Website describes IPM, lists sample IPM practices, and provides a list of print and Internet resources available from EPA and other organizations.
- For more information on EPA’s IPM Program, visit epa.gov/pesticides/ipm.
Since the presence of asbestos in high-activity public buildings such as schools presents the opportunity for inadvertent disturbance and potential for exposure, EPA created a Website addressing asbestos in schools. This resource contains information on the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), a fact sheet on asbestos management in schools, a summary of health effects of asbestos, frequently asked questions about asbestos in schools, and useful links to other EPA and non-EPA resources.
- To learn more, visit www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/asbestos_in_schools.html
Lead in Drinking Water: Schools and Daycare Centers
EPA established the Lead in Drinking Water Program for Schools and Day Care Centers to educate schools on facts regarding lead in drinking water and potential health impacts for children. Young children and infants, whose main diet consists of liquid, can get 40 to 60 percent of their lead exposure through water. EPA encourages schools and day care centers to test water for lead concentration at all fixtures used for drinking, cooking lunch, and preparing juice or formula. This will help to reduce the potential for children’s exposure to lead.
- For more information on EPA’s Lead in Drinking Water Program for Schools and Day Care Centers, visit epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/pdfs/report_lcmr_schoolssummary.pdf (PDF) (33 pp, 386K, About PDF).
Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign and Prevention Program (SC3)
Accidental spills of potentially dangerous chemicals endanger students and staff, result in school days lost, cost millions of dollars to clean up each year, and are, in many instances, preventable. When chemicals are improperly used or stored they can put students, staff, and others at risk from spills, explosions, or other accidental exposure. Thus, mismanaged chemicals represent a critical environmental health and safety issues schools must address to improve the learning environment for children and to provide a healthy workplace for teachers and staff.
The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign and Prevention Program (SC3) builds upon the lessons learned and accomplishments of existing state and local efforts to decrease the number of injuries and school days lost due to poor chemical management and chemical spills. The goals of SC3 are to raise national awareness of the potential dangers of chemical accumulations in K–12 schools and facilitate chemical cleanout and prevention of future chemical management problems.
A chemical cleanout and prevention program will:
- Protect the health and safety of children and school personnel,
- Prevent fires and spills,
- Prevent school closures,
- Protect the environment, and
- Save money, reduce liability.
Successful cleanout and prevention programs are customized to meet the specific needs of the school district. Several elements are common to all successful programs. These elements include:
- On-site technical assistance,
- Education and hazard awareness training for school personnel,
- School commitment to ensure proper chemical management,
- Adequate funding for chemical disposal, and
- Partnerships with other organizations to achieve program goals.
EPA is working with others who care about this issue to develop partnerships that work toward meeting the program goals. EPA is working toward building a national removal, prevention, and awareness program consisting of a national network of industry and government partners that will make clean-out and prevention available to every school in the country. These stakeholders include other federal agencies, state agencies, teachers’ associations, school administrator organizations, chemical suppliers and other industry representatives.
EPA encourages school districts and communities to promote a safer learning environment. Valuable resources for teachers, administrators, and community partners can be found at: www.epa.gov/sc3.