New York State School Environmental Health Program

school bus, children playing on turf field, girl drinking from water fountain

Upcoming Events

Bi-monthly Webinar Series: Turf Management and Field Safety, Thursday, September 18, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Carl Schimenti, Urban Environmental Scientist at Cornell University, helps schools explore the health, environmental, and safety implications and pros and cons of synthetic verses natural turf. Register.

Indoor Air Quality Matters Conference, Thursday, November 6, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM at the Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel Conference Center, Kingston, NY

Subject matter experts offer practical solutions for schools to improve indoor air quality through monitoring, radon testing and mitigation, and integrative pest management. Register.

Resources by Topic

About Us

The NYS School Environmental Health Program is a voluntary, non-regulatory program that emphasizes practical steps that are low or no-cost. Materials and information on this website will help you self-assess and take appropriate actions to create healthier learning and working environments for all students and staff across New York State.

The program offers:

  • Free resources to familiarize yourself with our environmental health focus areas
  • Self-assessment tools
  • Access to technical assistance from a wide range of experts

What is school environmental health?

School environmental health is the way the physical environment influences the health and well-being of the occupants.

How does the school environment affect health?

A school’s environmental health can impact the health of its occupants. Examples of environmental factors that can contribute to health symptoms are indoor air quality, mold or excess moisture, pests and pesticides, and lead. Temperature, lighting, and noise levels can also negatively impact health if not properly controlled. These factors can lead to asthma symptoms or attacks, respiratory symptoms, headaches, andthe transmission of viral and bacterial-related illnesses.

How does the school environment affect other outcomes?

A school’s environmental health can have impacts on absenteeism, employee and student retention and satisfaction, academic performance, and test scores. Also, costly expenditures on energy, repairs, maintenance, and clean-ups increase operation costs for the school.

Health and Safety Committees are required by law for New York State public schools. Ideally, nonpublic schools also create these committees. Fully developed and efficiently functioning Health and Safety Committees are integral to responding to and preventing environmental health concerns in schools.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) provides suggestions to guide districts in establishing Health and Safety Committees and defining the duties of the committee.

New York State has laws and regulations that schools should be following to assist in creating healthy school environments.