EPA Requests Research on Healthy School Environments

September 12, 2013- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking proposals for research on the negative impacts of a school’s environment on student health and achievement, as well as the positive benefits of managing that environment and applying sustainable building practices. The initiative stems from the EPA’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program.

The goal is to understand the relationship between environmental factors (in K-12 facilities) and the health, safety and performance of students, teachers and staff. Research would look at building design, construction and operation practices with the aim of fostering safe, healthy school environments and maximizing student and teacher achievements.

Results would ultimately help minimize the risks of environmentally-induced illness and injury while ensuring that schools offer optimal learning environments.

“American children spend a significant portion of their day in school and accumulating evidence indicates that the quality of indoor school environments may affect the health and productivity of children as well as their adult teachers and school staff,” the agency said. “School facilities in poor condition not only present serious health risks, but may also lower academic outcomes.”

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