School IPM

In Pennsylvania, pesticides are regulated by the PA Department of Agriculture as dictated by the Pesticide Control Act of 1973. The regulations created by the Department of Ag as a result of the act are listed under Pesticide Regulations Title 7 Chapter 128 For any specific clarifications of the regulations, contact Dave Scott at PDA at (717) 772-5214.

IPM is not a practice limited to commercial and agricultural situations; it can also be used by the general public throughout our community. School IPM is everybody's business because nothing is more important than the health of our children. Proper management of pests is essential in and around facilities housing students, faculty, and staff. The best school IPM programs are the ones where school employees, parents, and the community share in the design and implementation of the program as a team, with each member of the team having specific roles.

The School IPM section of our Web site is targeted to provide information to team members. Therefore, we provide information for school administrators, facilities managers, teachers, students and parents.

The importance of school IPM is further emphasized by new state laws and regulations that require that IPM plans be created for the management of pests on school grounds, and the requirement of the State Board of Education that IPM be a part of Pennsylvania's academic standards.

IPM and Indoor Air Quality

"Children in Pennsylvania spend many hours in and around school facilities.  Indoor air quality (IAQ) in particular, is of critical concern to school administrators, facility managers, faculty, staff and students alike.  An excellent IAQ "Tools for Schools" self-assessment tool for building managers is available free from EPA (LINK).  One aspect of assuring good IAQ and reduced allergens is the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM). Ideally, IPM reduces pests effectively while minimizing potential problems due to pesticide use in and around school facilities."