Act 125 - School Environmental Health

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Act 125

Act 125’s goal is to improve school indoor air quality, reduce hazardous exposures, and help schools earn the Certificate of Achievement for Environmental Health in Schools.

Act 125 is one of a kind in the nation, setting standards that:

More information about student performance and indoor air quality information see the EPA publication: Indoor Air Quality and Student Performance.

Public Information Clearinghouse

Vermont’s Act 125 also directed the Commissioners of Health, of Education, and of Buildings and General Services to create and maintain this Department of Health website. The information on this site provides schools with a clearinghouse of information to help identify potential sources of environmental pollution, and operate the schools in a way that create a healthy indoor air.What we provide here are actions to take, a model plan & policy to adopt to your school situation, and links to resources like those found in Best Practices.

Act 125 was based, in part, on the fact that, while “information on least-toxic and nontoxic materials, non-chemical pest control methods and appropriate maintenance practices and standards is widely available through governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations and professional societies,” it was “not readily accessible through a single information source.”

Envision Program

The Envision Program will give schools the tools, training, technical assistance, and referrals to earn the annual Certificate of Achievement while improving their school environment. The ENVISION program legislation intended that:

Assistance is also offered to schools, including links to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools, which we recommend as a model for Vermont schools. The model uses no cost or low cost solutions to indoor air quality problems.

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Act 125 Advisory Panel

The Legislature identified organizations who would serve as members of an Act 125 Advisory Panel. The Panel charge was to advise the Department of Health about implementation of a model plan and policy, identifying barriers, and discussing options for schools to use the best practices.

Act 125 Advisory Panel Members

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Teachers and Students

Students and Teachers can get involved with school environmental health management planning. The Association of Vermont Recyclers offers teachers resourde guides for recycling education in the classroom.

The School Waste Reduction Guide provides students and school personnel with step by step information on how to reduce hazardous materials and chemicals from a school.

Students can also check out an interactive learning tool, ToxTown, to find out more about health issues and the environment. (make sure to download the Flash Player plug-in, available on the Toxtown site, to view the interactive town).

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