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Healthy Schools
Healthy Schools
Helping schools maintain a healthy environment for students, teachers and staff is a priority for the State of Vermont. Chemicals used inside the school or on school grounds may contribute to poor indoor air quality (pollution) that can hurt student and teacher performance and result in missed school days. Poor indoor air quality can cause:
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
- Nausea
- Tiredness
- Long-term conditions—such as asthma and allergies
Disinfecting wipes are easy to use but are generally not safe for everyday classroom use. Disinfecting wipes (e.g. Lysol and Clorox brands) contain harsh chemicals that have been linked to acute and chronic health issues. They can cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation. And the fragrances used can trigger allergies and asthma and have been linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues. Learn more about disinfecting wipes and what to use instead for everyday classroom cleanup Vermont offers programs and resources to improve and maintain healthy school environments. The School Environment Health Act (Act 125) aims to improve school indoor air quality, reduce exposures to hazardous materials, and help schools earn the Envision Certificate of Achievement.
The Envision Program – Promoting Healthy School Environments was created from Act 125. It helps schools identify, prevent, and problem-solve potential environmental health and indoor air quality issues by providing a model environmental health management plan and policy. Envision gives schools the tools, training, and technical assistance to create and maintain a healthier school environment.
Healthy schools are more than ensuring good indoor air quality in school buildings. Creating a healthy school includes reducing exposure to other toxic substances, particularly asbestos, lead and radon.
schools and child care Facilities - Lead testing OF drinking water
Contact Information
Envision Program
Phone: 802-863-7220 or
800-439-8550 (toll-free in Vermont)
Fax: 802-863-7483
In This Section
Vermont law requires all schools and licensed or registered childcare facilities to test their drinking water for lead and remediate if levels are at or above 4 parts per billion (ppb).
While a major source of lead poisoning in Vermont children is paint, lead in older plumbing, pipes and fixtures can add to a child’s overall lead exposure.
Poor indoor air quality in schools has been linked to decreased student and teacher performance and increased absenteeism as well as acute and chronic health effects. The Envision Program was created to help schools address indoor air quality issues.
The Envision Program best practices are intended to provide school administrators, nurses, maintenance and building services staff with tools to use when planning for renovations, preventative maintenance, pest management and control, monitoring of drinking water, and other building activities.
The Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act was established by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect students, educators, and staff from coming in contact with asbestos in schools.
The risk of lead poisoning can be reduced when schools are maintained in a way that lowers or eliminates sources of lead—such as lead-contaminated soil, lead dust, and chipping or peeling lead-based paint.
For most school children and staff, the second largest contributor to their radon exposure is likely to be their school.