According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), nearly one-fourth of the nation's schools have one or more buildings in need of extensive repair or replacement and nearly half have been reported to have problems related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Faulty structures place students at risk for exposure to asthma triggers, radon, mold and other indoor pollutants. The USEPA estimates that indoor air pollution levels can be two to five times, and sometimes more than 100 times higher, than outdoor levels. Research shows that poor IAQ harms the health and performance of students and staff.

To assist schools in assessing potential dangers, the USEPA provides a free resource called the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit, including individual checklists and other resources at epa.gov/iaq/schools. The USEPA recently held an online event "Virtual School Walkthrough Webinar: Identifying and Solving Common IAQ Problems" addressing indoor air quality managment programs. Watch the webinar.