Report Shows Majority of Schools Are Implementing Green Cleaning

Chicago – Healthy Schools Campaign, a nonprofit organization working to ensure all students attend schools that support their health and wellness, partnered with ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, to survey schools and universities across the country to better understand what they are doing and determine the type of resources and tools schools need.

The 2018 National Education Facilities Cleaning Survey found that 96.7 percent of schools have implemented green cleaning to at least a small extent, and nearly one in three schools

has implemented green cleaning to a very large extent. The report also found that the presence or absence of an official state or organizational policy influenced a school’s likeliness to implement a more comprehensive green cleaning program.

“This report shows just how far schools have come in making sure their cleaning programs are safe for the health and children and staff,” says Healthy Schools Campaign President + CEO Rochelle Davis. “We are encouraged by the results of this survey and look forward to working with the green cleaning industry and schools across the country to continue this movement.”

The report also highlights how schools view the importance of a green cleaning program. Three in four schools view cleaning as essential and deeply value its importance in ensuring health and safety for students and staff. 

“This collaborative effort between ISSA and Healthy Schools Campaign is a great example of a partnership that brings light to a truly important subject: improving our school environments to ensure students and teachers can educate and learn in safe, healthy surroundings,” said John Barrett, Executive Director of ISSA. “We look forward to continuing these efforts to enlighten all schools—and the public at large—to the importance of green cleaning practices.” 

This report is available to download at greencleanschools.org/report.

 

Featured

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

  • New City School

    Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Transforming New City School

    When New City School in St. Louis suffered catastrophic flood damage in July 2022, the event could have marked a serious setback for the 100-year-old institution. Instead, it became a forward-looking opportunity.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • California K–12 District Completes Elementary School Campus Replacement

    The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in Richmond, Calif., recently announced the completion of a replacement campus for Lake Elementary School, according to a news release. The school has capacity for 470 students between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and sixth grade.