INTRODUCTION

More than 53 million children and 6 million adults in the United States spend their days in our elementary and secondary schools.  Reducing environmental risks inside these building is critical to maintaining the public health.  Almost all of New England's children will spend a large portion of their childhood in school.  To help our children stay healthy, we must reduce their exposure to environmental hazards in school environments.  When students and their teachers are healthy and comfortable, children learn and produce more in the classroom, which in turn improves performance and achievement later in life. 

The NH Partners for Healthy Schools (NHPHS), a diverse group of individuals is committed to helping school districts improve their indoor and outdoor environments and the health of their students and staff.  NHPHS is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Asthma Cooperative Agreement, US Environmental Protection Agency Healthy Communities Grant, and the Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions.