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 for schools to follow to assist in creating healthy school environments.

General

• New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Free access to the codes, rules, and regulations of New York State agencies (CRR-NY).
• New York State Education Department Office of Facilities Planning Homepage.
• New York State Education Department Laws & Regulations Overview.
• New York State Education Department Manual of Planning Standards for School Buildings 2026.

Health and Safety Planning

• Guidelines for the Health and Safety Committee. New York State Education Department summary. (Applicable Regulations: 8 CRR-NY 155.4; 8 CRR-NY 155.5)
• 8 CRR-NY 155.4. Uniform Code of Public-School Building Inspections, Safety Rating and Monitoring.
• 8 CRR-NY 155.5. Uniform Safety Standards for School Construction and Maintenance Projects.
• Building Condition Survey. 8 CRR-NY 155.4. Uniform Code of Public School Building Inspections, Safety Rating, and Monitoring.
• Building Condition Survey Aid: Please read carefully to avoid loss of aid.
• Building Condition Survey/Annual Visual Inspection. Current Building Condition Survey and information, previous Building Condition Surveys and Annual Visual Inspection reports, and information on the elimination of the Annual Visual Inspection.
• Guidelines for School Safety Plans. 8 CRR-NY 155.17.

Indoor Air

• NYSED Manual of Planning Standards 2026. S305 Indoor Air Quality
• Radon Testing and Reporting. 10 CRR-NY 16.130
• Radon in Schools. US EPA Guidance on testing and mitigation standards for schools.
• Radon Monitoring Program. New York State Department of Health information for awareness, testing, and mitigation.
• Installation of Carbon Monoxide Devices in Commercial Buildings. 19 CRR-NY 1225.2.
• Carbon Monoxide Detection. New York State Fire Code Section 915 (Incorporated by reference in 19 CRR-NY 1225.2)
• NYSED Manual of Planning Standards 2026. S811 Carbon Monoxide Detection and Alarm Systems.

Drinking Water

• School Potable Water Testing and Standards. Public Health Law (PBH) Section 1110
• Lead Testing in School Drinking Water. 10 CRR- NY Subpart 67-4: Lead Testing in School Drinking Water
• New York State Department of Health Lead Testing in School Drinking Water Program Guidance Manual.

Climate Action

• Maximum Temperatures in School Buildings and Facilities. New York State Education Law Section 409-n.
• Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Comprehensive Climate Act website.

Pests/Integrated Pest Management

• Pesticide Application Requirements at Schools and Day Cares. Comprehensive New York State Department of Health guidance
• Notice of Pesticide Application Law. New York State Education Law (EDN) Article 9, Section 409-h
• Child Safe Playing Fields Act. Chapter 85 of the Laws of 2010. Summary of Pesticide Prohibition Requirements and Pesticide Alternatives Regarding Schools and Day Care Centers in New York State.
• School Pesticide Neighbor Notification Law. 8 CRR-NY 155.24.
• School Pesticide Neighbor Notification Law Information. New York State Education Department questions and answers about this law.

Mold/Moisture

• Licensing Requirements for Mold Contractors, Assessors, and Workers. New York State Department of Labor Mold Program summary. (Applicable regulation: Labor Law (LAB) Article 32)
• Law Governing Mold Remediation Assessors and Contractors. Laws of New York, 2014 Chapter 551. An Act to amend the labor law and to amend the state finance law, in relation to enacting the mold assessment and remediation account.

Chemicals

• Chemical Storage Guidelines. This publication is intended to provide school faculty and staff with guidelines pursuant to New York State Education Law (EDN) Section 305(19).

Cleaning

• Green Cleaning Law. Chapter 584 of the Laws of 2005. An act to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation to the procurement and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products in schools (Applicable regulations: Education Law (EDN) 409-I; State Finance Law (STF) 163-b).
• Joint Letter from Commissioners to School Administrators.
• Policies, Guidelines, and Reports on the Procurement and Use of Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning and Maintenance Products for Elementary and Secondary Schools.
• Green Cleaning in Schools. New York State Education Department implementation of the Green Cleaning Law.

Transportation

• Heavy Duty Vehicle Idling Laws. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation summary. (Applicable regulations: 6 CRR-NY 217-3)
• Idling School Buses on School Grounds. Education Law 3637.
• Safety Regulations for School Bus Drivers, Monitors, Attendants, and Pupils. New York State Education Department summary.

• 8 CRR-NY 156.3 Safety Regulations for School Bus Drivers, Monitors, Attendants, and Pupils.

Construction

• Uniform Safety Standards for School Construction and Maintenance Projects. 8 CRR-NY 155.5
• Asbestos Safety Program Requirements. 10 CRR-NY 73
• Asbestos Re-inspection. New York State Education Department summary.

View all SEHP publications that are available for order

• Indoor Air Quality
• Radon
• Mold and Moisture
• Managing Chemicals
• Green Cleaning
• Lead Testing in School Drinking Water
• Reimbursement for Remediation of Lead in School Drinking Water
• School Reporting Requirements for the Health Commerce System

• Administrative Staff Checklist and Backgrounder
• Building and Grounds Maintenance Checklist and Backgrounder.
• Food Service Checklist and Backgrounder
• Health Officer/School Nurse Checklist and Backgrounder
• IAQ Management Checklist and Backgrounder
• Integrated Pest Management Checklist and Backgrounder
• Renovation and Repairs Checklist and Backgrounder
• School Official's Checklist and Backgrounder
• Teacher's Classroom Checklist and Backgrounder
• Ventilation Checklist and Backgrounder
• Walkthrough Inspection Checklist and Backgrounder

2025 SEHP Conference Presentations

Indoor Air

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Cleaning & Chemical Management

Drinking Water

Transportation

Climate Resiliency & Sustainability

Leadership & Communication

• Asthma
• Viral Transmissions & Other Health Effects

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