About

In its 30th year, Healthy Schools Network continues building on a record of national leadership in protecting children’s environmental health in schools. Healthy Schools Network is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit that founded and continues to foster the national healthy school environments movement—effecting change through policy advocacy, coalition leadership, research, and technical assistance.

Our mission is to ensure that every child has access to a healthy and safe learning environment.

To protect children, families, and schools, the Network treats all incoming requests for technical information and referral assistance as confidential. To safeguard our independent voice for children, Healthy Schools Network does not endorse specific products or accept support from the chemical industry.

Our History of Progress

Founded in 1995, Healthy Schools Network built—from the ground up—the national movement for healthier school environments and helped secure stronger protections for children’s environmental health.

Founded and continues to convene the Coalition for Healthier Schools, harnessing the collective strength of more than 150 organizations and hundreds of advocates nationwide to provide a national platform for environmental health in schools.
Published the Towards Healthy Schools series of national indicator reports profiling state policies, conditions, and risks to children.
Fostered reform coalitions in scores of states and localities, supporting state- and community-driven policy change.
Created and has coordinated National Healthy Schools Day annually for more than 20 years, building public awareness and promoting engagement for thousands of teachers, students, parents, and advocates through hundreds of activities in more than 40 states, with participation from federal, national, and state partners.

Federal and State Policy Leadership

Testified before the U.S. Senate and helped secure federal authorizations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2007) and the U.S. Department of Education (2002) to address school environmental health through new guidelines and grants to states.
Helped improve EPA guidance for state agencies by promoting the use of the New York State Board of Regents School Environmental Quality report and additional insights from more than a dozen states.
Organized national advocacy to restore federal funding for EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection and the IAQ Tools for Schools voluntary program.
Created and still maintain the Healthy Schools/Healthy Kids Clearinghouse, the nation’s first information service for parents of children facing environmental health concerns at school.

Safer Chemicals

Seeded a national campaign on green cleaning products in schools (2005). Today, 11 states and Washington, D.C., require or promote the use of third-party-certified green cleaning products in schools.
Championed New York State’s interagency green procurement initiative, generating savings of hundreds of millions of dollars while improving environmental and occupational health.
Joined advocates in fighting to preserve state and local rights to restrict pesticides use in and around schools.

School Funding and Infrastructure Impact

Healthy Schools Network has supported and helped secure billions of dollars for school facilities, environmental health, and climate resilience, including

$1.2 billion in federal funds for school repairs (2002)
$125 million through a New York State Bond Act to replace coal-fired boilers in New York City and Buffalo schools (1996)
$5 billion for school repairs in the federal American Recovery Act (2022)
$2 billion through the New York State Smart Schools Bond Act to replace trailers, expand pre-K spaces, and improve connectivity statewide (2015)
Establishment of a New York State children’s environmental health budget line (2007–present)
School district eligibility in the NYS $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act (2022).

Landmark Laws and Lasting Protections

Championed legislation requiring all public schools in New York City—the nation’s largest K–12 system—to use green, high-performance design standards for new construction and major renovations (2007).
Helped enact multiple New York State laws addressing school environmental conditions, including eliminating mercury, high-hazard pesticides, and arsenic-treated wood; requiring written school policies on indoor air quality, pesticides, and preventive maintenance; protecting occupants during renovations; and requiring certified green cleaning products in all public and private schools.
As a result of a 2012 U.S. EPA grant, supported the establishment of a permanently staffed Clean, Green and Healthy Schools advisory committee within the New York State Department of Health.
Co-led the 2016 statewide campaign that resulted in the nation’s first law requiring all public schools to test drinking water at the tap for lead and remediate at 15 ppb, later strengthened to 5 ppb in 2020.
Convened the collaborative on COVID and schools (2020), calling for schools to be designated critical infrastructure and for the adoption of infection prevention and control plans to ensure clean air, clean water, and healthy school facilities; co-authored new American Public Health Association policy statements on preparing schools for climate-related disasters, including future pandemics.

Awards

2017 – David P. Rall Award for contributions to public health through science-based advocacy (American Public Health Association)
2017 – William K. Reilly National Environmental Leadership Award (American University School of Public Affairs Center for Environmental Policy)
2017 – Indoor Air Quality Champion Recognition (US EPA)
2016 – Walter L. Cohen (high school) Alumni Association (New Orleans, LA) Recognition of Services
2014 – Outstanding Partner Award (Green Seal)
2008 – Recognition of Services, Friend of the PEHSU Program (Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units)
2007 – US EPA IAQ [indoor air quality] in Schools Program: Special Achievement Award
2007 – Green Apple Award (Collaborative for High-Performance Schools)
2005 – Recognition Award (US EPA Office of Children’s Health Protection)
2001 – US EPA Region 2 Environmental Quality Award

Current Federal, State, and Global Appointments

Member, National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters, advising the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
Member, National Coordinating Committee on School Health & Safety (HRSA–MCH)
Steering Committee Member, New York State Health Advisory Committee on School Environmental Health
Member, New York State Education Department Green Ribbon Schools Committee
Member, United Laboratories Standards Development Panel on Sustainable Cleaning Products
Member, National Advisory Board, Collaborative for High Performance Schools
Member, Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air, an international body of public health, scientific, and policy leaders working to advance a global framework for improving indoor air quality in buildings, including schools

Looking Ahead

As Healthy Schools Network enters its fourth decade, we are focused on the future of children’s environmental health in a rapidly changing world. Climate change, aging infrastructure, emerging infectious diseases, and environmental inequities threaten the health and well-being of our children. Healthy Schools Network is meeting this moment by advancing policies and initiatives that treat clean air, safe water, and healthy buildings as fundamental rights for children. Building on our national leadership—and our growing engagement in global efforts to improve indoor environments—we will continue to translate science into policy, strengthen accountability, and secure durable protections that safeguard children’s health today and for generations to come.

Our vision remains constant: every child, in every community, deserves a healthy and safe place to learn.