The number of issues and areas of concern within school environments can seem daunting. Busy schedules, limited resources, and administrative challenges all conspire to hinder a teacher’s desire to make positive changes. We have the tools and expertise to help. We also have dedicated funding available to assist with certain issues.
How to Get Started for Key Issues
What’s at stake?
Municipalities across the country are being impacted by the presence of lead in pipes. Children exposed to lead are at risk of severely impeded cognitive development and lifelong learning challenges.
Get learning tools
Fact sheets and online resources are available.
Talk to the right people
Let us help inform your decision-making.
Build your team
Joining forces with like-minded staff, teachers, and administrators can act as a force multiplier and help effectuate change.
Get Technical and Financial Support
We are providing free water testing kits and can provide partial funding for any remediation.
What’s at stake?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The EPA estimates that nearly 70,000 classrooms in the United States have dangerous short-term levels of radon gas. It can only be detected through testing.
Get learning tools
Fact sheets and online resources are available.
Talk to the right people
Let us help inform your decision-making.
Build your team
Joining forces with like-minded staff, teachers, and administrators can act as a force multiplier and help effectuate change.
Get Technical and Financial Support
We are providing free Radon testing kits and can provide partial funding for any remediation.
What’s at stake?
Asthma
Asthma is the leading cause of absenteeism in U.S. schools. Students with chronic absenteeism due to asthma are twice as likely to be diagnosed with a learning disability.
Mold
Sinus inflammation, nosebleeds, respiratory diseases, and irritation of existing asthma symptoms and allergies can result from mold.
Fragrance-free
Chemicals found in perfumes and personal care products can cause breathing difficulties, neurologic responses (such as dizziness and headaches), skin irritations, and allergic reactions.
Integrated Pest Management
Toxic pesticide exposure can lead to a variety of short and long-term health concerns, including asthma and allergy attacks, neurological impairment, and immune system damage.
Green Cleaning
25 percent of cleaning products used in schools are toxic and can lead to poor indoor air quality, cancer, asthma, reproductive disorders and other illnesses and diseases.
School Bus Idling
According to the EPA, diesel fuel exhaust is among the most dangerous forms of emissions. Those routinely exposed to diesel exhaust face higher risks of stroke, cancer, asthma, heart attacks, and other chronic illnesses.
Get learning tools
Fact sheets and online resources are available.
Download the curriculum
Our easy-to-implement lesson plans can quickly be used in the classroom.
Talk to the right people
Let us help inform your decision-making.
Build your team
Joining forces with like-minded staff, teachers, and administrators can act as a force multiplier and help effectuate change.
Find funding
The Highmark Foundation provides funding for school environmental health initiatives.
What’s at stake?
Manufactured from recycled tires, crumb rubber artificial turf contains known carcinogens like arsenic, cadmium, and zinc. More than 11,000 artificial turf fields are in use across the United States.
Get learning tools
Fact sheets and online resources are available.
Talk to the right people
Let us help inform your decision-making.
Build your team
Joining forces with like-minded staff, teachers, and administrators can act as a force multiplier and help effectuate change.
Find funding
The Highmark Foundation provides funding for school environmental health initiatives.
What’s at stake?
Integrated recycling programs both reduce the need for landfills and save on the usage of wood, aluminum, steel, petrochemical, and other virgin materials.
Get learning tools
Fact sheets and online resources are available.
Talk to the right people
Let us help inform your decision-making.
Build your team
Joining forces with like-minded staff, teachers, and administrators can act as a force multiplier and help effectuate change.
Find funding
The Highmark Foundation provides funding for school environmental health initiatives.
What’s at stake?
School gardens teach students valuable lessons about healthy eating, menu planning, and composting while fostering an appreciation for nature and sustainability.
Get learning tools
Find out more with this webinar and from our friends at Grow Pittsburgh and Edible Schoolyard Pittsburgh.
Talk to the right people
Let us help inform your decision-making.
Build your team
Joining forces with like-minded staff, teachers, and administrators can act as a force multiplier and help effectuate change.
Find funding
The Highmark Foundation provides funding for school environmental health initiatives.
Want to Start With a Different Issue?
There is no shortage of opportunities and challenges facing our schools and school districts. Visit our Resources Page to learn more.
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Success Stories
Scores of schools and school districts across our region are taking positive steps to help their students thrive in healthier environments. From testing for radon to cleaning green, discover how teachers, staff, and parents are working together to bring about positive change.
One Simple Step
That You Can Take TODAY To Make Schools Healthy
Avoid Pesticides Where Kids Play
Exposure to chemical pesticides, especially among children, greatly impacts their short-term and long-term health. A number of studies identify asthma, cancer, neurological impairment, and ADHD as symptoms of ongoing pesticide contact.