About the Symposium

EPA hosts the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium. This premier event brings together teachers, school nurses, maintenance and custodial staff, school decision makers, school administrators, parents, school and health association members, and community leaders from across the country to discuss the importance of developing effective IAQ management practices. Attendees learn about available resources and materials, including the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit, that will enable them to support and implement good IAQ practices in schools.

The National Symposium is a training and networking event for the IAQ Tools for Schools Program. It draws more than 500 attendees and offers educational sessions from nationally recognized experts on topics such as:

• Using the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit and implementing the IAQ Tools for Schools Program in your school
• The latest issues in environmental health, including radon and mold and moisture control
• Asthma management
• Designing, building and maintaining healthy high performance schools
• Green cleaning and environmentally friendly product selection
• Building science and school building design
• Facility management
• Effective risk communication  

During the National Symposium, EPA holds a special awards ceremony to honor recipients of the following prestigious IAQ Tools for Schools competitive awards:

• The National Excellence and National Model of Sustained Excellence Awards are EPA's competitive awards for school districts that recognize outstanding, established IAQ management programs.
• The National IAQ Tools for Schools Connector Award is a competitive award recognizing individuals and organizations that are making a difference in our children's health and lives by taking action to promote healthy indoor environments in schools.

Winners of these competitive awards receive an all-expense-paid trip to IAQ Tools for Schools National Symposium.