TOOLS TO GREEN YOUR SCHOOL

The Center for Green Schools School Health Research Library research focuses on the impact of the school built environment on student and staff health and performance, including a variety of indoor environmental health topics ranging from indoor air pollutants to lighting and acoustics. This unique database of the latest school-based research allows users to quickly find and access studies most applicable to their needs through filters for measured exposures, student and staff outcomes, free public access, and study location. An accompanying series of research highlights are posted with the library to help translate this research into action in schools and currently feature particulate matter, VOCs, and PFAS. Each research highlight is designed to support school staff and leaders in understanding key findings from research conducted in the U.S and around the world, as well as important background information and actionable mitigation strategies.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers unlimited, non-competitive funding that is available to all schools that move towards adopting clean energy technologies. These improvements can bring long-lasting benefits to your district, including improved student health and safety, fewer learning disruptions, and operational cost savings that can be applied to other district priorities.

In spring 2023, the Smithsonian Science Education Center contracted with Gallup to conduct a study of U.S. K-12 teachers and school administrators, as well as teachers of students in comparable grade levels in four peer countries: Brazil, Canada, France and India. The goal was to gauge attitudes toward, and demand for, education and resources related to sustainable development. In the United States, educational resources exist within school and district curricula, which must adhere to state standards. Internationally, however, different countries and provinces often have a National Curriculum, typically directed by their Ministries of Education. This study was an outgrowth of the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s Smithsonian Science for Global Goals project, which aims to improve STEM Education for Sustainable Development for youth around the world. Download the report to read the findings.