Sick Schools Report Points to Children's Health Crisis

A new report released today reveals compelling evidence of how polluted air inside and outside schools escalates health care costs, increases absenteeism, and reduces test scores.

Produced by the National Coalition for Healthier Schools, “Sick Schools 2009 - America’s Continuing Environmental Health Crisis for Children,” compiles peer reviewed studies from policy advocates in 20 states and the District of Columbia to make the case for healthy schools.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health – MassCOSH, a member of the national coalition, sees the report as a red flag that federal support is desperately needed for school modernization and repair. Tolle Graham, Healthy Schools Coordinator at MassCOSH, says “Local school districts and the Commonwealth cannot carry the full financial load needed to bring our schools up to 21st Century - and healthy standards. And in the meantime, more schools fall further into disrepair leaving few options for the children and staff who learn and work in these buildings.”

Anne Wass, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, agrees. "We believe that every student deserves a great public school - and that starts with the physical environment,” says Wass. "Environmental hazards or bad air quality should never get in the way of a student's ability to learn and grow. As educators, we believe that all students and all staff deserve healthy and safe places to learn."

The report shows that fully one-fifth of the nation’s population spends its days in school buildings. It provides ample evidence that when these buildings have old roofs, antiquated heating and ventilation systems, and other structural problems, the health of people in the building suffers.
Georges Benjamin, MD, FACP, and executive director of the American Public Health Association points to the educational risks associated with unhealthy buildings. "Unhealthy conditions in our schools lead to failing grades and failing health." Benjamin says. "Environmental concerns such as asbestos, mold, poor air quality and other hazards affect children's ability to learn and their health, and schools in low income communities are often disproportionately affected. We must close this gap and ensure that all of our kids are given an opportunity to learn, grow and play in safe, healthy schools."

According to the report’s authors, the Environmental Protection Agency’s program funds for children’s health and for schools slashed during the previous administration were not restored in President Obama’s first executive budget. As one senior federal official commented, “children’s environmental health just fell through the cracks.”

According to Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner, Vice-Chair of the council’s Education Committee, “Our country's greatest educational crisis is our inability to provide safe buildings for our public school students. Estimates are that it would cost $250 billion dollars put the public schools of this country into sound physical condition. Our states and cities can't afford the cost. It’s time for the federal government to bail us out by providing the $250 billion necessary to safeguard our children while they are being educated.”

The full report is available here:
http://www.healthyschools.org/SICK_SCHOOLS_2009.pdf

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First convened in 2001, the The National Healthy Schools Coalition has shaped and won two federal laws to address children’s environmental health in schools, and through regular conference calls and annual meetings, has provided information and technical assistance to foster the and share the work of scores of state and local policy groups seeking root reforms. For annual meeting agenda and speakers, as well as pictures, see
http://www.healthyschools.org/coalition.html

Policy advocates from 20 states and District of Columbia contributed to the new report, as well as national organizations. States include Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, DC, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin where the Governor signed a new school environments law this week. The national Coalition for Healthier Schools Policy Position Statement is found at www.healthyschools.org/coalition.