EPA makes school environmental health easily achievable

As the back to school season ramps up, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently detailed the different ways in which it supports school environmental health programs, which can substantially help student performance at a state, community and school level.

The EPA created a handbook for state legislatures looking to work on school environment health with voluntary guidelines. The agency’s work at the state level is concentrated on encouraging the adoption of school environmental health programs, whether they use existing policies or create their own.

For communities and school districts, the EPA provides evaluation guidelines for officials making decisions about school sites, which can be used before building a new school, choosing land for a new school or before renovating an existing school building.

At individual schools, the agency makes it easier to establish and implement environmental health programs. These are comprehensive strategies to ensure student health and optimal learning atmospheres through the proper maintenance of school buildings and grounds.