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Non Toxic Schools

"There is abundant data suggesting adverse impacts of numerous pesticides on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. Implementing a safer organic turf and land management program and reducing or eliminating agricultural uses where possible is in the interest of community health." - Christopher Kassotis, PhD, Non Toxic Communities Advisor 

DOCUMENTS FOR SCHOOLS


​These sample documents provide a basic framework to assist you in approaching your school to create healthier environments for our children.  Send them to your principal, school district managers, school boards, and teachers.  Gather support to help your school move forward with non toxic management.
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Sample Letter ​
Sample flyer
Kids flyer
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Common misconceptions about organic athletic turf management
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UCONN Best management practices for Athletic fields
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City of Irvine, California athletic field maintenance practices

States

According to the National Pest Management Association website, 39 states and the District of Columbia have some type of school pest management law or regulation in place. 
Connecticut 

Legislation passed in July 2015 banning toxic pesticides on municipal playgrounds. School districts are required to give minimum 24 hour notification for pesticide application on school property. Integrated pest management methods and tracking are required to reduce pesticide use on state properties as well.


Connecticut Bans Toxic Lawn Pesticides in Municipal Playgrounds Statewide

Pesticide-Free Sports Fields are Working for Connecticut's Youth

SB – 443 an act concerning pesticides on school grounds, parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and municipal greens

Hawaii 

Herbicides are banned at public schools.

Herbicides banned on Hawaii public school campuses, superintendent says

New York 

Law prohibits school or day care centers from applying pesticides to any playgrounds, turf, or athletic or playing fields. The requirements are administered by the NY State Education Department for schools and by the Office of Children and Family Services for daycare centers.

Pesticide prohibition on grounds at schools and day care centers

School Districts 

Boulder Valley School District


Gilroy Unified School District


Goleta Union School District


Hampshire County, Massachusetts School Districts - Amherst, Easthampton, Westhampton, Hatfield, Hadley, Southampton, Williamsburg, Pelham and Granby


Irvine Unified School District


Los Angeles Unified School District


Mount Greylock Regional School District

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Newport Mesa Unified School District/CostaMesa


Oak Park School District


Santa Barbara Middle School 
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Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District
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Wrightsville Beach Elementary School

Parent-Teacher Associations

California

The California State PTA policy strongly encourages action by all PTAs to inquire what pesticides are being used on school property, and advises that each PTA urge its school district to prioritize alternatives.

California State PTA Pesticides Resolution
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Universities

Adelphi University, New York
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UC Berkeley


UCLA



University of Colorado, CU - Boulder, Colorado


Drexel University



Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia​

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Harvard University, Massachusetts


Keene State College, New Hampshire


UMass Amherst


University of Pennsylvania
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University of Pittsburgh


Pepperdine University


Seattle University, Washington


Sonoma State University


University of Texas Austin Dell Medical School


Tufts University, Massachusetts


University of Washington Bothell, Washington


Willamette University, Oregon



Yale University, Connecticut


​National Green Grounds Certification
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Click photo to download the report
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Click photo to access toolkit

 LEARN MORE

The ChildSafe School

The ChildSafe School is a program of Grassroots Environmental Education, a science-based non-profit organization. The ChildSafe School program was developed in response to growing evidence linking childhood exposure to common environmental exposures with significant health outcomes, and the awareness that the impacts of some of these exposures can be lifelong.

Children and Schools

Beyond Pesticides overview of resources for children and schools. Includes studies, state and local law, policy and more.

Children's Environmental Health Center

The Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC) is a Center of Excellence at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The faculty conducts groundbreaking research to identify the environmental causes of childhood diseases. They translate their findings into solutions using research to educate families and advocate for public policy that protect children’s health.

Re:wild Your Campus

Re:wild Your Campus empowers the next generation of environmental leaders to create safer, more sustainable living and learning environments for all, by starting locally and advocating for organic land care on their campuses. 


PHOTO GALLERY


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