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For Children, Health, Environment, Education, & Communities

Founded in 1995, Healthy Schools Network is an award-winning 501(c)3 that has fostered the national healthy school environments movement. 

Latest News & Updates

asbestos
Clean Air
EPA bans last form of asbestos used in United States

The US Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that it is taking a “historic” step by banning ongoing uses of asbestos, which has long been linked to multiple types of cancer.

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Join our mailing list to stay on top of the latest news and issues concerning healthy schools

What You Can Do

What to Think About

First, visit your school. See our Tips for School Building Visits and Tours 

Your school has environmental problems if:

  • Personnel and or students have health problems when they are in the building 
  • The roof leaks or the building or its site has been flooded
  • The building is new or newly renovated and still smells like paint, varnish, or glue
  • or there was a chemical spill at school
  • The building smells damp or musty or smells like sewage
  • Your child has health or learning problems ONLY during school days
  • Hint: track your child’s symptoms on a calendar
  • The building and grounds are routinely treated with disinfectants or pesticides/herbicides
Start a Local Group

If your school does not have or decides not to appoint a healthy schools committee that represents parents and staff, start your own committee. 

  • Local groups do not need to be incorporated, but groups need to stick together and speak with one voice.
  • As a group, pick the issues you want to work on first. Your mission: every child and school employee should have an environmentally safe and healthy school.
  • Ask others to join. Investigate together, and share information with your group.
  • Write letters about the issue (what it is, the impact, how to fix, request written response), keep copies, and track responses.
  • See change happen. Celebrate.
  • Say thank you!

Common starting issues: eliminate toxic products; stop bus idling; improve indoor air quality/ventilation; reduce dampness and stop molds; eliminate lead in paint and water.

Start a State Coalition
Call Healthy Schools Network for advice on establishing a multi-stakeholder coalition and preparing an agenda for root policy reforms.

Recent Reports

OUR 4TH NATIONAL INDICATORS REPORT

COVID, CLIMATE, CHILDREN, & SCHOOLS: FOCUS ON CLIMATE

Our Staff

Claire L. Barnett
Founder and Executive Director

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Jeff Jones
Communications and NYS Policy

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Nancy Vorsanger
Development

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Robert Paigo
Bookkeeper

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