Fellowes, in partnership with We Are Teachers, has released the results of their 2nd annual national survey regarding air quality in North American K-12 education. These results have illuminated a concerning gap between educators and school authorities regarding the prioritization of air quality in educational facilities. The survey polled 2,682 K-12 educators from the United States highlighting a critical disconnect in the allocation of resources, with Indoor Air Purification Systems ranking consistently low among school district priorities.
Despite overwhelming acknowledgement from teachers—96% of whom recognize the direct correlation between air quality and student performance—only a mere 26% rated their school’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) as good or excellent. Shockingly, 40% reported a complete absence of air purification units throughout their schools, despite federal funding efforts aimed at their implementation. An overwhelming 97% of surveyed teachers believe that school districts bear the responsibility of providing clean air in classrooms. However, the survey findings suggest that schools frequently fall short in prioritizing air quality in crucial facility management and budgetary decisions. Compared to other facility-related items (including classroom technology, athletic facilities, classroom surfaces, HVAC/temperature control, and restroom cleaning) teachers claimed that school district leaders rated indoor air quality as the lowest priority.