Managing Air Quality During the Pandemic: How K-12 Schools Addressed Air Quality in the Second Year of COVID-19

This report presents findings from a nationwide survey of U.S. school districts conducted in the spring of 2022 to understand how schools managed indoor air quality (IAQ) during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on an initial 2021 survey, the study documents continued investments in ventilation and air cleaning technologies, identifies ongoing challenges, and offers recommendations for sustaining IAQ improvements post-pandemic.
The results show that most school districts focused on increasing outdoor air ventilation, upgrading HVAC systems, and using portable air cleaners. However, fewer districts engaged in more complex strategies such as demand-controlled ventilation or advanced filtration. The report notes that federal relief funding helped enable many of these actions, although long-term funding, technical guidance, and staffing remain barriers for some districts.
Districts reported relying on multiple sources for guidance, with local health departments, CDC, and state education agencies among the most frequently cited. The report highlights the need for improved coordination and clearer standards, particularly for rural and under-resourced schools. It also shares examples of district-led innovations and collaboration with external partners.
The authors conclude that pandemic-driven attention to IAQ presents an opportunity to make lasting improvements to school air quality. The report calls for continued investment, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building to ensure that the health benefits of better IAQ are preserved beyond the pandemic. It is particularly useful for school administrators, facilities managers, public health professionals, and policymakers interested in lessons learned from real-world school district practices.