Summer is here! As the summer break offers a respite from the bustling activities of the school year, it also presents a prime opportunity for parents and teachers to focus on a crucial but often overlooked aspect of education: air quality in schools.
While educators meticulously plan curriculums, extracurricular activities, and classroom decorations, the air that our children (and teachers) breathe is rarely given the attention it deserves. However, improving air quality is not just a matter of comfort—it’s a critical step in safeguarding our children’s health and enhancing their academic performance while also creating better working conditions for instructors and school staff. Research has shown: dirty air impacts IQ but adding air purifiers to the classroom improves performance.
In today’s blog, we’ll review some of the air quality challenges facing many schools. But there’s also good news: the federal funding available through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) is an excellent opportunity to improve air quality in your school.
We’ll also share how parents (or any concerned friends/family members) and teachers can leverage time off during the summer vacation to advocate for cleaner air in schools while ESSER funding is still available with the Austin Air Parent Teacher Toolkit.
The Hidden Threat: Poor Air Quality in Schools
Schools are dynamic environments where numerous factors can influence indoor air quality (IAQ). The air in school buildings can harbor a range of pollutants including dust, pollen, mold, and chemical emissions from cleaning products, classroom materials, etc. Research has shown that poor IAQ can lead to, or worsen, a variety of health issues, including asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections. Air quality even impacts cognitive function and academic performance!
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality due to their developing respiratory systems and higher breathing rates relative to their body size. Exposure to pollutants can exacerbate asthma symptoms, a condition affecting approximately 8% of school-aged children and adults in the United States.1 Bad IAQ increases the likelihood of asthma attacks. High pollen counts are lasting longer, leading to allergic rhinitis and exacerbated asthma.
Academic Performance
Studies have found that cleaner air can significantly enhance students’ ability to concentrate, process information, and perform academically. When the air quality improves, students have better test scores and overall enhanced cognitive function. By prioritizing air quality, schools can create an environment conducive to learning, ensuring that students can achieve their fullest potential.
The significance of clean indoor air in the classroom is perhaps best demonstrated by the aftermath of the Aliso Canyon gas leak in California. The uncontrolled release of methane for several months caused reports of nausea, headaches, and severe nosebleeds – particularly in children. Thousands of air purifiers were installed, including over 10,000 Austin Air cleaners, and this is where things get exciting…
Several years later researcher Michael Gilraine published an analysis on student performance with the Annenberg Institute of Brown University. His work showed that air filtration systems in classrooms yielded remarkable improvements in academic performance and attendance.
Specifically: the benefits of running high-quality air purifiers is on par with reducing class size by 30%.2
The transformative potential of air purification in enhancing student learning outcomes is far more cost effective than high dosage tutoring, Perry Preschool, Head Start, and other initiatives! Improvements in absenteeism rates, which is another benefit of air cleaners in the classroom, also mean huge gains for schools.
Project for Summer 2024: Advocating for Clean Air
Given the profound impact of air quality on student health and performance, improving IAQ in schools should be a priority. This summer, parents and teachers can take advantage of federal funding opportunities, specifically the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, to make substantial improvements to school environments. The September 30th deadline is looming for allocating ESSER funds, the time to act is now.
ESSER Funds and Air Purifiers
The ESSER funds, part of the federal government’s COVID-19 relief efforts, are still available to schools to address the impact of the pandemic. One effective use of these funds is the purchase of portable air purifiers, such as those offered by Austin Air.
Austin Air purifiers were designed to remove a wide range of pollutants from the air, providing a cleaner and healthier environment for students and staff alike. These air purifiers are clinically proven to improve health outcomes for children with asthma, COPD patients, and more. The filtering technology of HEPA and activated carbon is recommended by the CDC.34
Why Portable Air Purifiers by Austin Air?
- Effectiveness: Austin Air builds medical-grade air purifiers, with HEPA and activated filters capable of removing 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns and 99% of particles down to 0.1 microns. This includes dust, pollen, mold spores, and even some bacteria and viruses – like COVID-19 and RSV.
- Flexibility: Portable units can be moved from room to room as needed, ensuring that all areas of the school receive clean air.
- Cost-Effective: Compared to comprehensive HVAC upgrades, portable air purifiers are a more affordable solution that can be quickly implemented without extensive modifications to existing infrastructure. Austin Air filters last up to five years which also works out to major savings on cost and time.
Taking Action: The Parent and Teacher Toolkit
To assist in this initiative, Austin Air Systems has developed a Parent – Teacher Toolkit. This comprehensive resource provides everything needed to advocate for and implement cleaner air solutions in schools for educators or concerned family members and friends.
What’s in the Toolkit?
Information and Education: The toolkit includes detailed information about the importance of air quality, the health and academic benefits of clean air, and the effectiveness of Austin Air purifiers.
Advocacy Resources: Parents and teachers will find templates for letters and emails to school administrators and boards, presentations that outline the benefits of air purifiers, and strategies for effectively communicating the need for improved IAQ.
How to Get Started
Step 1. Educate Yourself and Others: Begin by familiarizing yourself with the facts about indoor air quality and its impact on health and learning. Use the materials in the Parent and Teacher Toolkit to educate other parents, teachers, and school administrators.
Step 2. Advocate for Change: Use the advocacy resources in the toolkit to reach out to school decision-makers. Highlight the availability of ESSER funds and the deadline for their use, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness and immediate benefits of portable air purifiers.
Step 3. Collaborate: Form a committee or task force of concerned parents and teachers. Working together can amplify your voice and make a stronger case for the necessary changes.
Ensuring clean air in our schools is an investment in the health and future of our children. By taking advantage of the ESSER III funds and utilizing the Parent and Teacher Toolkit from Austin Air Systems, you can make significant strides in improving air quality in your community’s schools.
This summer, use your time off to create a healthier, more conducive learning environment for our children and better working conditions for educators. The benefits of clean air extend far beyond the classroom, fostering a community where every child has the opportunity to thrive and every teacher has a healthy environment to work.
REFERENCES
1 Most Recent National Asthma Data (2023 May 10). US Centers for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_national_asthma_data.htm.
2 Gilraine, Michael. Air Filters, Pollution and Student Achievement. EdWorkingPaper: 20-188. Retrieved from Annenberg Institute at Brown University: http://www.edworkingpapers.com/ai20-188.
3 Taking Steps for Cleaner Air for Respiratory Virus Prevention (2024 March 1). US Centers for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html.
4 Residential Air Cleaners – A Technical Summary, 3rd Edition, Portable Air Cleaners, Furnace, and HVAC Filters. (July 2018). US EPA Indoor Environments Division. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/documents/residential_air_cleaners_-_a_technical_summary_3rd_edition.pdf.
