Unreported Issues: Numerous Pennsylvania School Districts Neglect to Handle Environmental Risks

In an effort to address environmental concerns in schools, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced in 2024 a grant programme worth up to $7.9 million from the Public School Environmental Repairs Grant Program. The funding aims to help remediate lead, mold, asbestos, and other environmental hazards in schools across the state.

However, a new report by Women for a Healthy Environment reveals that fewer than half of school districts in Pennsylvania have taken steps to remediate environmental hazards such as mold and lead contamination in their buildings. The report also found loopholes in Pennsylvania state law that allow some school districts to avoid testing their drinking water for lead, and to abstain from informing parents and teachers about lead contamination.

According to the report, between 2021 and 2022, more than 71% of school districts included in the study detected lead in their drinking water. In the same period, almost half of the school districts that tested for mold detected the fungus in at least one of their buildings. Mold can irritate respiratory problems such as asthma, and fewer than half of school districts in the region report testing for mold at all.

Exposure to lead can cause serious health problems, including organ damage and cognitive impairment among children. In 2021, nearly 5,000 children in the state tested positive for high levels of lead in their blood, with lead paint being the top source of exposure.

The report also noted additional irritants used regularly on school properties, such as pesticides and chemical cleaning products, which can cause respiratory problems and are linked to chronic health conditions. Some schools in the region, including in Philadelphia, haven't installed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at all, forcing schools to close during extreme heat.

Naccarati-Chapkis, a health advocate, emphasized the need for stronger regulations and policies at both the school board and state levels to ensure clean air, clean water, and no exposure to harmful chemicals for all children. The Women for a Healthy Environment report recommends upgrading ventilation and filtration for improved air quality, implementing policies for mold remediation, requiring all schools to filter their drinking water, and reducing pesticide use.

In response to these concerns, the governor's 2025-26 budget proposal includes $125 million for school facility improvement projects. Since taking office, the Shapiro administration has allocated $275 million for school infrastructure improvements to address environmental hazards.

Despite these efforts, the report does not contain specific information about which schools in Pennsylvania had detected pollutants in their drinking water or mold in their buildings in 2021 and 2022, nor whether these issues have been addressed or not. Pennsylvania only requires lead paint testing in schools that serve children under 6, leaving many schools without regular testing.

Schools in the region upgrade their HVAC systems at slower rates, leaving kids more susceptible to health problems due to inadequate air flow. The report recommends regular testing and upgrades to ensure the safety and health of all students and staff in Pennsylvania schools.

Unreported Issues: Numerous Pennsylvania School Districts Neglect to Handle Environmental Risks