Setting a New School Indoor Air Quality Research Agenda

This report outlines a stakeholder-informed research agenda for K-12 indoor air quality, developed by the Center for Green Schools through a series of convenings between 2023 and 2025. The resource is designed to help school system leaders, facilities managers, and state agencies align academic research with practical operational needs. It focuses on three main priority areas: evaluating the condition of buildings and equipment to prioritize needs, addressing organizational barriers to effective HVAC maintenance, and understanding the impact of building-level variables on air quality outcomes.

Key takeaways include actionable guidance on how the prioritization of school facility improvements changes with funding. With unlimited funding, capital investments like HVAC upgrades are prioritized. With limited funding, the focus shifts to operational strategies such as healthy cleaning, filter changes, and regular inspections. The report emphasizes the importance of implementation science to understand the barriers to maintaining air quality. It also provides recommendations for establishing effective research partnerships between school districts and external partners, such as universities. By integrating the perspectives of on-the-ground facilities staff, the agenda aims to support health goals, including asthma prevention, reducing infectious illnesses, and improving student performance.