The Healthy Schools Act

A law that provides school staff and parents or guardians information about the pesticides used on school property.

Background
Although surprising to most people, schools use pesticides, sometimes in large quantities. Because children are much more susceptible to the various risks posed by chemical exposure than adults, parents, communities and health advocates around the state pressed for legislation that would provide parents, guardians, and school staff information about the kinds of chemicals being applied in California’s schools. After years of trying, the Healthy Schools Act of 2000 was signed into law by Governor Gray Davis and provides critical ‘Right to Know’ information to the school staff and parents or guardians of school age children.

Requirements
The Healthy Schools Act does not require a reduction in pesticide use or a change in official school policy. The Act does provide school staff and parents or guardians with information about the types of chemicals being used on school grounds, the dates of applications, and more. Specifically, the new state law requires the following:

1) Notification*: Schools must notify staff and parents or guardians annually about pesticides the school district intends to use in their children’s schools and on school grounds during the following year. This notice should be sent prior to the beginning of the school year.

2) Registry*: Schools must offer staff and parents or guardians the opportunity to sign up on a registry to be notified of individual applications 72 hours before they take place. This notice should be sent prior to the beginning of the school year.

3) Posting*: Schools must post notices at all ‘entry points’ of an area to be treated with pesticides 24 hours before and 72 hours after an application. This posting must display the term “Warning/Pesticide Treated Area” and display the product name, manufacturer’s name, the registration number, intended date and areas of application, and the reason for the application.

4) Record Keeping: Schools must maintain records of all pesticide use for four years in an accessible format available upon request.

5) Resources: The Department of Pesticide Regulation must provide training on least-toxic Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques for interested school personnel; distribute a least-toxic IPM manual to all schools; maintain a website with information to help schools comply with the new law and implement least-toxic IPM.

It is important to keep in mind that although this Act does provide staff and parents or guardians with information about the pesticides being used on school grounds, it does little to eliminate the use of pesticides or to establish a least-toxic policy. In order to accomplish this goal, IPM policies must be requested and supported by parents, guardians and staff, and will result only from continued collaboration and communication with the school administration.

Researching Pesticide Toxicity
Because pesticides contain both a “product” and “chemical” name and are classified by levels of toxicity, it is sometimes difficult to understand exactly what a school is using or how toxic that substance may be, even when the school provides this information. Click here to locate a pesticide by either its chemical or product name and research its toxicity to human health and the environment.

More information on the Healthy Schools Act