3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water
/resource/3ts-reducing-lead-drinking-water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA's 3Ts - Training, Testing, and Taking Action - Here you will find information and recommendations to prepare schools, childcare facilities, and states to build a voluntary implementation program to reduce lead levels in drinking water. 

On-Demand Training Webinars
/resource/demand-training-webinars
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Access on-demand webinars on a variety of topics related to healthy schools and energy savings plus health.

Healthy Schools Research Grants
/resource/healthy-schools-research-grants
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA, as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, has awarded grants to seven universities under the 2013 “Healthy Schools: Environmental Factors, Children’s Health and Performance, and Sustainable Building Practices” Request for Application (RFA). This Healthy Schools STAR Research will improve the understanding of the relationship between environmental factors in K-12 educational facilities and the safety, health and academic performance of children, and the effectiveness of teachers and staff.

Sign up for EPA’s National Center for Environmental Research listserv to receive announcements on new funding opportunities, upcoming research meetings and webinars, and special announcements.

White House Summit on Indoor Air Quality
/resource/white-house-summit-indoor-air-quality
The White House

On October 11, 2022, the White House hosted a Summit on improving Indoor Air Quality, bringing together public health and ventilation experts, private sector and education leaders, and other stakeholders to highlight the benefits of improved indoor air quality.

WIIN Grant: Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities
/resource/wiin-grant-reducing-lead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care-facilities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced projects that have been selected to receive over $30 million in grant funding under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. This grant funding, and additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help make rapid progress on the goal of addressing lead and removing lead pipes across the country.

Funding Sources for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities
/resource/funding-sources-reducing-lead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care-facilities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Interactive guide to help schools and childcare providers identify potential funding sources for lead remediation and water quality-related projects. This guide lists 4 federal programs, 79 state programs, and 115 foundations/companies providing funding opportunities.

Clean School Bus Program
/resource/clean-school-bus-program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s new Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years (FY 2022-2026) to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. EPA solicited applications for $500 million through the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates for zero-emission and low-emission school bus rebates as the first funding opportunity.  

Technical Resources for Schools
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ASHRAE

Technical Resources for Schools (Ventilation, HVAC system Operation)

Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools
/resource/creating-healthy-indoor-air-quality-schools-0
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Promote a healthy learning environment at your school to reduce absenteeism, improve test scores and enhance student and staff productivity.

Clean Air in Buildings Challenge
/resource/clean-air-buildings-challenge
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge” is a call to action and a set of guiding principles and best practices to assist building owners and operators with reducing risks from airborne viruses and other contaminants indoors. 

Scaling Climate Change Education: A Case Study in New Jersey
/resource/scaling-climate-change-education-case-study-new-jersey
Rethink Outside

The following piece is a case study written by the New Jersey Climate Change Education Initiative, showcasing its efforts to expand climate change education in New Jersey.  

Better Buildings Challenge: Resources for K-12 Schools
/resource/better-buildings-challenge-resources-k-12-schools
U.S. Department of Energy

K-12 school districts spend nearly $8 billion annually on energy costs, the second largest expense after teacher salaries. Aging facilities combined with limited school budgets result in deferred maintenance of facilities with an estimated $270 billion needed for infrastructure repairs.

Better Climate Challenge
/resource/better-climate-challenge
U.S. Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is challenging organizations to set ambitious, portfolio-wide GHG emission reduction goals. This new effort provides additional opportunities for peer exchange and technical assistance to meet the urgent call to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Climate Superstars Challenge
/resource/climate-superstars-challenge
National Environmental Education Foundation

The National Environmental Education Foundation’s Climate Superstars Challenge is an online environmental challenge that gets kids excited about the environment and how they can take an active role in caring for its future. During the challenge, middle school classrooms and after-school programs in grades 6-8 complete short tasks geared towards environmental literacy and energy efficiency. Classes that complete a specified number of tasks are entered into a prize drawing.  Consult the program website for specific dates and registration links.

 

Vitamin N Challenge
/resource/vitamin-n-challenge
Children & Nature Network

The Vitamin N Challenge was inspired by Richard Louv’s book on Vitamin N that includes 500 practical ideas to leading a nature-rich life. Join the challenge to help youth on summer break spend time outdoors.

Environmental Justice Academy
/resource/environmental-justice-academy
Pre-College University

Pre-College University launched the Environmental Justice Academy, with funding by the Department of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management, to introduce individuals to the field of Environmental Justice. The free courses are designed for all skill levels and include Environmental Justice 101 and Climate Justice.

Invertebrate Conservation Education Resources
/resource/invertebrate-conservation-education-resources
Xerces Society

The Xerces Society free resources for educators and parents include a new invertebrate exploration activity book, YouTube channel for youth, monarch toolkit, and identification and monitoring guides. All of the resources are designed to help inspire the next generation to care for invertebrates.

Kids Breathe Better Podcast
/resource/kids-breathe-better-podcast
Allergy & Asthma Network

Allergy & Asthma Network offers a podcast series, Kids Breathe Better! This podcast series is designed to give parents and caregivers helpful tips and strategies to manage their child’s asthma symptoms. The host is a pediatric nurse practitioner with over 35 years of experience in working with children with asthma. 

Allergies and Asthma at School
/resource/allergies-and-asthma-school
Allergy & Asthma Network

Parents and schools need to partner to care for students with asthma and life-threatening allergies, as well as other related conditions.

EXHALE Guide for Schools
/resource/exhale-guide-schools
CDC

This Guide explains how schools can use EXHALE strategies, individually or in combination, to help people with asthma achieve better health outcomes.

Introduction to Tree-Plenish
/resource/introduction-tree-plenish
Tree-Plenish

Tree-Plenish is a non-profit that helps schools host community tree-planting events to offset their school's energy consumption. Tree-Plenish supports schools every step of the event hosting process from picking the right species all the way to setting up on the day of the event. Tree-Plenish orders and ships the saplings, creates a custom website for each school's event, and provides mentorship support. The event comes at no cost to the school.

Highlights from the 2022 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2022-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the 2021 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2021-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the 2020 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2020-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Learn about the 2020 ED-GRS honorees’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices in our annual Highlights Report. 

Highlights from the 2019 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2019-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Learn about the 2019 ED-GRS honorees’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices in our annual Highlights Report. 

Highlights from the 2018 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2018-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.

Highlights from the 2017 Honorees
/resource/highlights-2017-honorees
U.S. Department of Education

This report provides examples of efforts in all three Pillars of the ED-GRS award: 1) reducing environmental impacts; 2) improving health and wellness; and 3) offering effective environmental and sustainability education.  Awardees must document progress in all of these Pillars in order to be selected for the federal recognition award.