The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #52071

Claire L. Barnett, MBA, Healthy Schools Network, Inc., 773 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, 518-462-0632, cbarnett@healthyschools.org

While major national coalition efforts to generate full or partial federal funds to rebuild America's schools have not been successful during the last decade, $1.2 billion in federal funds for urgent health & safety repairs to schools was appropriated by Congress and released to the states this year. Eligible uses of funds are consistent with US EPA's "IAQ Tools for Schools" program. Additionally, pushed by a health-based advocacy coalition, Congress enacted the "Healthy and High Performance Schools Act" last winter as part of reauthorizing ESEA "Leave No Child Behind Act of 2001." Required is a new national priority study of the impacts of decayed schools on child health and learning, and a voluntary State-based information and incentive program for healthier, greener school buildings: the USD Education has yet to act on either program.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will

(
• Learn of major national coalition efforts to generate full or partial federal funds to rebuild America's schools; (
• describe a new national priority study of the impacts of decayed schools on child health and learning; (
• gain awareness of a voluntary State-based information and incentive program for healthier, greener school buildings.

Keywords: School Health, Federal Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.