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Schools and Playgrounds

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WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON

Moms are working in several states to improve indoor air quality in schools and transition school fleets to zero-emissions electric buses. We raise awareness of extreme heat and air pollution concerns that put children at risk on outdoor playgrounds. We also support legislation that calls for robust climate education for grades K–12 at the federal and state levels.

MOMS ACTION

In an effort to cut school pollution and improve climate education, we:

  • EDUCATE We create educational content, like our resource Indoor Air Quality in Schools, which explains sources of poor air quality in schools in a way anyone—even kids—can understand.
  • PETITION Our members have submitted more than 6,000 messages to Congress in support of resolutions to improve climate education and mental health for students.
  • AMPLIFY Moms staff and members were featured in dozens of articles in 2024 highlighting the importance of improving school building and transportation conditions to protect the health of students, teachers, and staff.
  • SUCCEED Wisconsin Moms worked with state lawmakers to introduce a bill to improve indoor air quality in school in 2024. We’re collaborating with elected officials in other states to replicate this effort.

OUR SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS EXPERTS

Greenhouse gas senior policy analyst Elizabeth Bechard works on school pollution

Elizabeth Bechard

Public Health Manager

greenhouse gas expert Melody Reis works on school pollution

Melody Reis

Director of Federal Policy

Kindra Weid, Electric School Bus Expert works on school pollution

Kindra Weid, RN

Electric School Bus Outreach Coordinator

clean energy expert Liz Hurtado works on school pollution

Liz Hurtado

National Field Manager

RELATED RESOURCES

Reasons to Roll With Electric School Buses

Fact Sheet

Reasons to Roll With Electric School Buses

Electric School Buses: The Smartest Way to Get to School

Fact Sheet

Electric School Buses: The Smartest Way to Get to School

Indoor Air Quality in Schools

Fact Sheet

Indoor Air Quality in Schools

The Healthier Classroom Checklist

Fact Sheet

The Healthier Classroom Checklist

WHY WE CARE

Schools are places of learning, but that doesn’t make them necessarily healthy. Children spend a large portion of their waking hours on school property, where they can be exposed to mold, poor air quality, tailpipe pollution, pesticides, cleaning supplies, and other potential health harms.

HEALTH IMPACTS

Children are inherently more vulnerable to environmental hazards than adults, because of both physiological factors (their organ systems are still developing) and behavioral factors (they put their hands in their mouths more often, for example). Children with underlying health conditions, such as those with asthma, are especially vulnerable to environmental health threats at school.

Children are more vulnerable to
environmental hazards than adults.

COMMUNITY IMPACTS

The quality of public schools in the United States varies widely. Segregation still exists. Some districts are funded better than others. Communities of color and low-income communities are frequently underfunded. This exacerbates achievement gaps and can impact education as well as health.

BACK STORY ON
SCHOOLS & PLAYGROUNDS

Over the years, Moms Clean Air Force has worked to enhance the environmental health of school buildings, which frequently suffer from dire infrastructure problems like leaking roofs or inadequate ventilation. Our focus on school safety has historically centered on indoor air quality concerns stemming from mold, an asthma trigger, as well as on keeping facilities free of toxic chemicals, including those found in gym flooring as well as the pesticides used around buildings and playgrounds.

More Resources about Schools and Playgrounds

  • Articles
  • Resources
  • Take Action
  • press
Wisconsin Mom Leads the Charge for Healthier, Greener Schools

Article

Wisconsin Mom Leads the Charge for Healthier, Greener Schools

Supermom of the Month: Kristen Payne Fights Lead Dust in Milwaukee Public Schools

Article

Supermom of the Month: Kristen Payne Fights Lead Dust in Milwaukee Public Schools

Electric School Buses Roll On While Diesel Fleets Freeze in Montana

Article

Electric School Buses Roll On While Diesel Fleets Freeze in Montana

November Supermom of the Month: Rachel Steuer, Wisconsin

Article

November Supermom of the Month: Rachel Steuer, Wisconsin

My Climate Job: Jennifer Fowler, Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Director, Orange County Public Schools

Article

My Climate Job: Jennifer Fowler, Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Director, Orange County Public Schools

In Rural Michigan, New Electric School Buses Get Top Grades

Article

In Rural Michigan, New Electric School Buses Get Top Grades

Moms Call on Congress to Protect Children From Extreme Weather at School

Article

Moms Call on Congress to Protect Children From Extreme Weather at School

Moms Call on Congress to Protect Our Children From Unhealthy Indoor Air

Article

Moms Call on Congress to Protect Our Children From Unhealthy Indoor Air

Back to School 2024: No ABCs Without A/C

Article

Back to School 2024: No ABCs Without A/C

Ask Mom Detective: Does Artificial Turf Cause Cancer?

Article

Ask Mom Detective: Does Artificial Turf Cause Cancer?

For Better School Indoor Air Quality, CO2 Monitors Offer an Easy Solution

Article

For Better School Indoor Air Quality, CO2 Monitors Offer an Easy Solution

Ask Mom Detective: Are Playgrounds Safe in Summertime Heat?

Article

Ask Mom Detective: Are Playgrounds Safe in Summertime Heat?

Read more articles about Schools and Playgrounds »

Reasons to Roll With Electric School Buses

Fact Sheet

Reasons to Roll With Electric School Buses

Electric School Buses: The Smartest Way to Get to School

Fact Sheet

Electric School Buses: The Smartest Way to Get to School

Razones para adoptar los autobuses escolares eléctricos

Fact Sheet

Razones para adoptar los autobuses escolares eléctricos

Calidad del aire interior en las escuelas

Fact Sheet

Calidad del aire interior en las escuelas

Indoor Air Quality in Schools

Fact Sheet

Indoor Air Quality in Schools

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, State, Local Officials Highlight Clean Energy Opportunities From Federal Funding

Video

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, State, Local Officials Highlight Clean Energy Opportunities From Federal Funding

The Healthier Classroom Checklist

Fact Sheet

The Healthier Classroom Checklist

Tell Congress: Freezing Federal Funding Hurts Children

Petition

Tell Congress: Freezing Federal Funding Hurts Children

2025

The Hill

Los Angeles-area schools face trauma and a long road back

2024

The Boston Globe

Kids heading back to school? Here's how to ditch the plastic and pack more sustainable lunches.

WRAL News

Sustainable school lunches: ways to reduce costs, waste & chemical exposure for kids

Martha Stewart

How to Pack a Planet-Friendly School Lunch That Your Kids Will Love

SNIPS News

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools

Engineered Systems

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools

WUSF

Electric school buses could be replacing some diesel vehicles in five more Florida school districts

The Washington Post

Research puts dollar figure on climate savings from electric school buses

Air Quality News

US study establishes the cost benefits of electric school buses

The Invading Sea

Electric school buses will save children’s health

Orlando Sentinel

Commentary: Electric school buses will save children’s health

Arizona Republic

Quieter, cleaner electric school buses hit Phoenix streets. Why they're good for kids

Blog for Arizona

The Clean Energy Future Has Arrived at the Isaac School District in Phoenix with Biden/Harris Funding of New Electric Powered School Buses

KJZZ 91.5

Phoenix schools get nearly 50 new electric school buses

PA Homepage

First Student Launches Six New Electric School Buses in Pennsylvania from EPA Round One Funding

PA Environment Digest Blog

PA Moms Clean Air Force Celebrates Deployment Of First Electric Schools At Steelton-Highspire School District In Dauphin County Funded By EPA's Clean School Bus Program

The Copper Courier

This Phoenix school district is going electric—and neighbors are breathing easier

MetroMode Metro Detroit

Pontiac schools to replace all diesel buses with electric buses for 2024-25 school year

School Bus Fleet

First Student Helps Michigan District Transition to Electric School Buses

Associated Press

Tired of diesel fumes, these moms are pushing for electric school buses

Yahoo! News

Three local school districts getting electric school buses

WPXI

Three local school districts getting electric school buses

Fox 43

Pennsylvania receives over $45 million to buy clean school buses

ABC 15

More electric buses rolling out across Arizona school districts

League of Conservation Voters

Members of the Alliance for Electric School Buses Congratulate EPA Clean School Bus 2023 Grant Winners

Reasons to Roll With Electric School Buses

Fact Sheet

Reasons to Roll With Electric School Buses

Electric School Buses: The Smartest Way to Get to School

Fact Sheet

Electric School Buses: The Smartest Way to Get to School

Razones para adoptar los autobuses escolares eléctricos

Fact Sheet

Razones para adoptar los autobuses escolares eléctricos

Wisconsin Mom Leads the Charge for Healthier, Greener Schools

Article

Wisconsin Mom Leads the Charge for Healthier, Greener Schools

Supermom of the Month: Kristen Payne Fights Lead Dust in Milwaukee Public Schools

Article

Supermom of the Month: Kristen Payne Fights Lead Dust in Milwaukee Public Schools

Tell Congress: Freezing Federal Funding Hurts Children

Petition

Tell Congress: Freezing Federal Funding Hurts Children

Electric School Buses Roll On While Diesel Fleets Freeze in Montana

Article

Electric School Buses Roll On While Diesel Fleets Freeze in Montana

November Supermom of the Month: Rachel Steuer, Wisconsin

Article

November Supermom of the Month: Rachel Steuer, Wisconsin

My Climate Job: Jennifer Fowler, Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Director, Orange County Public Schools

Article

My Climate Job: Jennifer Fowler, Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Director, Orange County Public Schools

In Rural Michigan, New Electric School Buses Get Top Grades

Article

In Rural Michigan, New Electric School Buses Get Top Grades

Calidad del aire interior en las escuelas

Fact Sheet

Calidad del aire interior en las escuelas

Moms Call on Congress to Protect Children From Extreme Weather at School

Article

Moms Call on Congress to Protect Children From Extreme Weather at School

See more Schools and Playgrounds resources »

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Moms Clean Air Force ®

We are a community of more than 1.6 million moms, dads, and caregivers united against air pollution – including the urgent crisis of our changing climate – to protect our children’s health.

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  • Air Pollution
  • Climate Change
  • Toxic Chemicals

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