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  6. Indoor Air Quality in Schools Guide
  7. Clean Air at School Resources

Clean Air at School Resources

Helping schools with the resources they need to improve the quality and health of their indoor air.

The quality of indoor air in schools is a critical factor that can impact health, well-being, and performance of students and staff. Studies show that pollutants are two to five times higher indoors than outdoors. Considering young people spend about half their waking hours in school, it is critical to ensure that a school’s indoor air is healthy.

School administrators, educators, parents and policy makers all have a vital role to play in supporting and promoting healthier learning environments. Browse our curated collection of clean air at school resources to learn more about the problem and solutions.

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Improving your School’s Indoor Air Quality: Steps to Success

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The Basics

The IAQ in Schools Guide provides a useful overview of IAQ and shares tools that schools can use to improve their IAQ.

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This collection of IAQ in Schools resources features more than 500 guides, webinars, factsheets, and toolkits from various national and state organizations and agencies. Search for a resource by topic, audience or author.

DOWNLOAD THE CATALOG (coming soon!)

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Resources by Audience

Teachers and school staff are also impacted by school IAQ but have more control over the environment than students. There are many simple and low- or no-cost steps teachers and staff can take to improve the air quality in their classrooms. 

  1. Keep vents clear 
  2. Reduce clutter 
  3. Reduce cloth items 
  4. Go scent-free 
  5. Rethink classroom pets

To learn more, download the Tips for Teachers: 5 Actions to Improve Indoor Air Quality in the Classroom factsheet.

Parents and community members are valuable partners in supporting good IAQ in schools. Staying informed about IAQ policies and practices is the first step to helping schools improve IAQ. Communicating concerns to school administrators and actively participating in IAQ initiatives is the best way parents can support clean air in schools. By advocating for resources and promoting awareness within the wider community, they can help to create healthy learning environments for all students and staff.

Parent and community member resources coming soon! 

School administrators are vital leaders in ensuring good IAQ for healthy learning and working environments. They are uniquely positioned to communicate with the school community about IAQ issues and solutions, foster collaboration among departments, secure necessary resources, and develop and implement Energy Efficient IAQ Management Plans. Administrators can champion a culture of clean air for the entire school community.  

School administrator resources coming soon! 

Facilities directors are the backbone of healthy school buildings, and their work ensures a healthy learning environment for students and staff. Their primary duties involve the expert maintenance and operation of HVAC systems, ensuring effective ventilation and filtration are consistently in place, alongside routine checks for IAQ concerns. Through diligent cleaning protocols, proactive maintenance schedules, and careful pollutant (chemical and hazardous material) management, they are instrumental in establishing and upholding healthy indoor air for the entire school community.

Facility manager resources coming soon!

Currently, a number of states require or encourage IAQ management plans for schools, including Connecticut, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. IAQ Management Plans are effective tools that schools can utilize to promote and maintain good IAQ, and when combined with energy management, can provide energy savings. Plans are a proactive approach to creating a safe, healthy and productive learning environment. State policy makers can be influential in supporting schools in adopting and implementing plans.

State policymaker resources coming soon!

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Resources by Topic

The air you breathe is filled with lots of things including gases and particles—most are too small to see with the naked eye and may cause harm to your body when ingested. That is why ensuring your indoor air is free of these pollutants is important.

Indoor air pollutants like chemicals, asbestos, mold, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can contribute to poor indoor air quality in schools. These pollutants come from a variety of sources including: cleaning products, building materials, vehicle exhaust, and structural problems including plumbing or roof leaks.

Learn more about indoor air pollutants and sources of indoor air pollution by visiting What Makes Indoor Air Unhealthy?

  • Portable Air Cleaners in Classrooms: Portable air cleaners can supplement a school's HVAC system to improve classroom air quality by reducing airborne pollutants. It is crucial to select air cleaners with the correct Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for the room size and ensure they use HEPA filters. Proper placement and usage of the air cleaners are essential for maximizing their effectiveness. Avoid air cleaners with ionizers, foggers, or electrostatic sprayers, as they can be harmful to health. Download the Portable Air Cleaners in Classrooms factsheet to learn more.   
  • Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI): UVGI systems use ultraviolet light to effectively kill airborne and surface pathogens like viruses and bacteria, offering a way to disinfect indoor spaces. Proper installation, maintenance, and usage of UVGI systems are crucial for safety and effectiveness. Factors like lamp quality, wattage, placement, and ozone production must be carefully considered when selecting and using UVGI technology. Download the Can Ultraviolet Lights Improve Indoor Air Quality factsheet to learn more.
  • Radon Testing in Schools:  Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that causes lung cancer. Radon gas is colorless, tasteless and odorless, so the only way to detect radon in your school is to test for it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a nationwide survey estimates one in five schools has at least one schoolroom with a short-term radon level above the action level of 4.0 pCi/L. The EPA estimates that more than 70,000 schoolrooms in use today have high short-term radon levels. While some states have laws requiring radon testing in schools, it is recommended that all schools test their building for radon to help protect the health of students and staff. Download Radon Measurement Guidance for Schools to learn more.
  • Energy Efficient IAQ Management Plans: IAQ and energy efficiency are interconnected, making it important for schools to address them simultaneously through comprehensive management plans. These plans provide a proactive framework to improve building performance, reduce costs, and protect the well-being of the school community. The development and implementation of Energy Efficient IAQ Management Plans involves a four-stage process: organize, assess, plan, and act, with communication being essential throughout. Download the Energy Efficient IAQ Management Plans factsheet to learn more.
  • Smart Surfaces Guide for Schools:  Many schools do not have adequate infrastructure to remain cool during extreme heat events. This Guide emphasizes how excessive heat impacts learning, provides schools with actionable steps to mitigate excessive heat, provides examples of Smart Surfaces at schools, and highlights funding options to support Smart Surface adoption. There are even air quality activities for students. To learn more about Smart Surfaces, download this Smart Surfaces Guide for Schools or visit our Smart Surfaces and Lung Health page.

The American Lung Association has created a series of IAQ activities and lessons for teachers and caregivers of children pre-K through middle school to teach about IAQ concepts in a fun, engaging way.

Grades PreK-2 

Grades 3-5

Middle School

More Clean Air at School Resources

IAQ is one component of a healthy school environment. Learn more about these other Lung Association initiatives:

  • The Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative provides a framework and tools that communities and schools can use to work together on a comprehensive approach to asthma management, including planning tools, policy recommendations, and education programs.
  • The Vape-Free Schools Initiative provides school administrators and educators with tools and programs to support students in living vape-free. The initiative includes an alternative-to-suspension program for students found vaping, smoking or chewing on school property and a voluntary vaping/tobacco cessation program for youth wanting to quit for good.
  • Creating Lung-Friendly Environments for Youth offers strategies to address asthma, tobacco, clean air and more in schools and community organizations.  This resource highlights policies, programs and education to protect the lung health of youth and reinforce healthy behaviors in multiple settings-- at home, school, out-of-school programs and the community.

Ready to Take Action?

The Clean Air School Challenge is a program to raise awareness, educate, build capacity, and recognize the efforts of K-12 schools nationwide as they develop, implement and sustain comprehensive Energy Efficient IAQ Management Plans.

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