

Protecting Students and Staff, Improving Learning
Every school day in New Jersey, children, teachers and school staff face conditions that can cause illness or injury and that make it harder to teach and to learn. On average, New Jersey’s 2,500 school buildings are 50 years old and are four times more densely populated than office buildings. Age, overcrowding, and deferred maintenance strain ventilation, heating, plumbing, electrical systems, and waste energy. Students and staff in many schools are exposed to mold and other indoor air pollutants, triggering asthma attacks and absences due to illness. More than 20% of schools report conditions defined as “so potentially hazardous that they cause an imminent peril to the health and safety of students or staff.”
OUR CAMPAIGN PLATFORM
1. Safe and modernized school buildings. The N.J. Legislature must make funding available for school facilities projects. Currently the Schools Development Authority funding is completely allocated to projects and more funding is needed to address new construction and renovation projects. It is imperative we invest without delay.
2. Danger-free learning environments. As required by law, the N.J. Department of Education and Schools Development Authority must correct imminent dangers.
3. Healthy air. All schools should comply with state indoor air quality standards that are too often ignored. The N.J. Health Department should ensure that everyone understands the law and that it is followed.
4. Safe temperatures. The legislature should enact the Safe Temperatures Act, A1044/S1224,
to require school districts to have a plan to address extreme temperatures.
FIGHTING FOR WORTHWHILE OUTCOMES
- A school environment without extreme heat or cold, poor air circulation, mold, or toxic materials such as lead, asbestos, PCBs, and unsafe cleaning products.
- A productive learning environment in which students have access to 21st century technology and are not distracted by rain coming through ceilings or cold winds blowing through windows.
- A reduced rate of absenteeism, providing greater continuity for students, staff, and parents.
- A boost to our economy and local tax base by creating 10,000 construction/renovation jobs annually.
- A smart return on investment as we save money now spent or lost because of illnesses, absences, and energy waste. Updating each school’s energy efficiency can save an average of $100,000 a year.
View a photo collection of unsafe schools from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.
RESOURCES
Healthy School Now
RIGHT TO KNOW ACT
COVID-19:
- National School Reopening Guidance: A National Call to Action, The Pandemic v. Schools, States Must Guide Schools on Reopening, Slowing Spread of Viru
- All About Face Masks (en español)
- Tips for Better Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) During the COVID-19 Pandemic (en español)
- NJEA Review: We are Open/We are Not.Now What? (September 2020)
- Cleaning to Fight COVID-19 in Schools and at Home (NJEA Review April 2020)
SDA Funding:
- HSN Fast Facts: The NJ Schools Development (SDA) & Funding
- The 31 SDA Districts (NJ SDA Factsheet)
Mercury in Flooring:
- Alert! Mercury-Hazards to Staff and Students from Rubber-Like Floors in Schools (English/Spanish)
- Mercury Hazards in Schools from Rubber-Like Polyurethane Floors (Full Guide for School Staff)
- Mercury Hazards in Schools from Rubber-Like Polyurethane Floors (Full Guide for NJ School Boards)
- NJEA Review: Check Those Gym Floors for Mercury (March 2019)
- NJEA Review: Identify Floors that May Emit Mercury Vapor (April 2017)
- S-4934 Mercury Vapor Study Act of 2020
School Hazard Facts for Families Factsheet Series:
- Unite for Schools Free of Environmental Hazards (en español)
- Unite for a Toxic-Free School (en español)
- Unite for Schools Free of Hazards From Construction (en español)
- Unite for a Mold-Free Schools (en español)
- Unite for Schools Free of Pests and Pesticides (en español)
- Unite for Schools Free of Dust, Dirt, and Germs (en español)
- Schools Hazards Hurt Health and Learning (en español)
- Top School Health and Safety Websites (en español)
- Schools with Good Ventilation (en español)
- Schools with Comfortable Temperatures (en español)
Cleaning & Disinfecting:
- Green Cleaning Fact Sheet
- Disinfecting Can Be Hazardous (NJEA/WEC/HSN 2020)
- Disinfectant Wipe Fact Sheet (2020)
Lead in Drinking Water:
- Lead in Schools (NJ WEC)
- Drinking Water Facts: Lead (NJ Dept of Health)
- Sources of Lead in Drinking Water (EPA)
- Lead-Free NJ
Lead in Drinking Water Reports:
- New Jersey Future: (2017) Lead in School Drinking Water in New Jersey
- Lead in Drinking Water: (2019) Report From NJ Lead in Water Task Force
Artificial Turf:
- NJEA Review: Does Artificial Turf Make Sense? (February 2015)
- NJEA Review: Artificial Turf (October 2019)
CAMPAIGN PARTNERS
- AFTNJ
- AFT/Newark Teachers Union
- Badass Teachers Association
- Bayonne Education Association
- Camden County NAACP
- Camden Education Association
- Cedar Grove Education Association
- Clifton Teachers’ Association
- Code for Trenton
- Communication Workers of America, Local 1039
- East Orange Education Association
- East Orange Maintenance Association
- Education Law Center
- Environment New Jersey
- Esperanza Neighborhood Project of New Brunswick
- Essex County Council for Young Children
- Essex County Education Association
- Franklin Lakes Education Association
- Freehold Township Education Association
- Garden State Coalition of Schools
- Gateway Community Action Partnerships
- Gloucester County Education Association
- Hamilton Township Education Association
- Hamilton Township Secretaries Association
- Housing and Community Development Network of NJ
- Isles
- Jersey City PTA
- LAN Associates
- Latino Institute
- League of Women Voters of NJ
- LIUNA Local 78
- Mercer Street Friends
- Mercer County Education Association
- Metuchen Edison NAACP
- Middlesex County Education Association
- Moms Clean Air Force
- Monmouth County Education Association
- Morris County Council of Education Associations
- My Eternal Family
- NAACP New Jersey State Conference
- New Brunswick Education Association
- New Jersey Association of Black Educators.
- New Jersey Association of Schools Administrators
- New Jersey Black Issues Convention
- New Jersey Clean Water Action
- New Jersey Communities United
- New Jersey Community School Coalition
- New Jersey Education Association
- New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
- New Jersey Parent Teacher Association
- New Jersey Policy Perspective
- New Jersey Principals & Supervisors Association
- New Jersey School Boards Association
- New Jersey Working Families Alliance
- New Labor
- NJ21United
- Old Bridge Education Association
- Our Children Our Schools
- Oranges & Maplewood NAACP
- Paramus Education Association
- Parent Education Organizing Council
- Passaic County Education Association
- Paterson Education Association
- Paterson Education Fund
- Perth Amboy Federation/AFT Local 857
- Plainfield Education Association
- Play It Safe Mahwah
- Queens Mentoring Program
- Save Our Schools NJ
- Shiloh Community Development Corporation
- Somerset County Education Association
- Statewide Education Organizing Committee
- Sussex County Education Association
- Trenton Branch, NAACP
- Trenton Education Association
- Trenton United Parents and Community
- Vineland Education Association
- UIH Family Partners
- Unidos por Escuelas Dignas (United for Dignified Schools)
- Union County Education Association
- Washington Township Schools Supportive Services Personnel Association