Indoor Air Quality

"Poor indoor air quality remains one of the top health concerns that NEA members face! What’s more, as teachers and education support professionals, we also concerned about our students, because we know full well that our working conditions are the students’ learning conditions. We need EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program because it works!"

Reg Weaver, NEA President
2003 IAQ Tools for Schools Symposium

Americans spend about 90% of their day indoors—in classrooms, in offices, and at home. Furthermore, pollution levels indoors can be two to five times—and occasionally more than 100 times—higher than outdoor levels. To address this and other related issues, NEA HIN created the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Schools Program to provide NEA members information on ways to monitor and improve indoor air quality in schools.

There are many things individuals can do to improve IAQ in schools. What's more, these activities don't have to be expensive or highly technical. They can involve simple solutions—such as banning smoking in the school and on school grounds or uncovering a blocked air vent.

The goal of the IAQ in Schools Program is to increase awareness about IAQ issues among public school employee members as well as the students and communities they serve, and to foster action on IAQ problems in school buildings through the use of the IAQ Tools for Schools Kit.

The NEA HIN offers school employees a number of other services and resources through its Environmental Protection Agency-funded program that are designed to improve IAQ in schools. These services and resources include:

• funding NEA members to attend the annual IAQ Tools for Schools National Symposium;
• sharing IAQ information in publications such as NEA Today and through other communication channels; and
• conducting workshops at the Education Support Professional’s annual conference; UniServ Skills sessions; and other local, state, and regional conferences.

WHAT'S NEW:

NEA HIN Lesson Plans now available

Symposium Information:
NEA HIN is now accepting applications for the 8th Annual Indoor Air Quality TfS National Symposium!

• Using Common Scents: Fragrance Questionnaire Click here to take the survey
• NEA HIN Take a Deep Breath and Thank Your Custodian: Tips and Tools for Improving IAQ in Schools & Develop a Local Association IAQ Action Plan
• IAQ Tools for Schools Road Map
• IAQ Stats and Facts
• IAQ Tools for Schools Training Modules
• IAQ Tools for Schools Case Studies
• IAQ and Student Performance Fact Sheet
• Classroom-based IAQ Resources, Curricula and Tools
• Guidelines for Mold Remediation in Schools
• EPA's IAQ homepage
• EPA’s IAQ in Schools Homepage
• Take the Smoke-Free Home Pledge
• Model Legislation on Indoor Air Quality in Schools
• Environmental Law Institute Report on State IAQ Policies
• Environmental Justice Brochure
• IAQ-Schools Listserv
• Helpful Hotlinks