New York State School Environmental Health Program
Register for the 2024 New York State School Environmental Health Conference
This year's school environmental health conference will be held at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs, NY on Thursday, October 24. This year's theme is Climate Action in Schools: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Resilience. View the flyer and register to attend. There is no cost to attend the conference. Registration closes Friday, October 4 at 5pm.
About Us
The NYS School Environmental Health Program (NYS SEHP) is a voluntary, non-regulatory program that emphasizes practical steps that are low or no-cost. Materials and information on this website will help you self-assess and take appropriate actions to create healthier learning and working environments for all students and staff across New York State.
The program offers:
- Free resources to familiarize yourself with our 9 environmental health focus areas
- Self-assessment tools
- Access to technical assistance from a wide range of experts
Learn more
What is school environmental health?
School environmental health is the way the physical environment influences the health and well-being of the occupants.
How does the school environment affect health?
A school’s environmental health can impact the health of its occupants. Examples of environmental factors that can contribute to health symptoms are indoor air quality, mold or excess moisture, pests and pesticides, and lead. Temperature, lighting, and noise levels can also negatively impact health if not properly controlled. These factors can lead to asthma symptoms or attacks, respiratory symptoms, headaches, and the transmission of viral and bacterial-related illnesses.
How does the school environment affect other outcomes?
A school’s environmental health can have impacts on absenteeism, employee and student retention and satisfaction, academic performance, and test scores. Also, costly expenditures on energy, repairs, maintenance, and clean-ups increase operation costs for the school.
Resources by Topic
Checklists
- Administrative Staff Checklist and Backgrounder
- Building and Grounds Maintenance Checklist and Backgrounder.
- Food Service Checklist and Backgrounder
- Health Officer/School Nurse Checklist and Backgrounder
- IAQ Management Checklist and Backgrounder
- Integrated Pest Management Checklist and Backgrounder
- Renovation and Repairs Checklist and Backgrounder
- School Official's Checklist and Backgrounder
- Teacher's Classroom Checklist and Backgrounder
- Ventilation Checklist and Backgrounder
- Walkthrough Inspection Checklist and Backgrounder
Webinars and Presentations
- Featured Webinar: How One District Engaged the School Environmental Health Program with Great Success
- Presentations:
- Electric Bus Panel - A Time for Planning and Not Panicking
- Green Cleaning and Safer Disinfecting
- Humans Only - Keeping Pests Out of School Building
- Mold and Moisture
- NYC Experience with Indoor Air Quality and COVID
- NYC School System's Clean Energy Transitions
- NYS School Lead in Drinking Water Program
- Overview of Indoor Air Quality
- Pesticide Use in Schools