OPINION — Millions of American children spend time in classrooms that are often inadequately designed and maintained, and that school districts spend $78 billion annually to operate.
In the classrooms where students learn, there is one thing most parents and some school administrations probably haven’t checked: the indoor air quality. After all, this is the air the children will breathe until the summer break. Poor air quality is a surprising omission for educational institutions that are responsible for providing a healthy environment for children. Growing evidence suggests that indoor air quality is integral to student health and learning.
The Government Accountability Office’s new nationwide review of public schools provides worrisome findings and the clearest warning yet. During the 2024-25 school year, 36% of school districts reported isolated ventilation or poor indoor air quality problems in at least one school. An additional 13% of school districts described such problems as chronic.
