Teachers surveyed in North America say they are deeply concerned about the quality of their classroom air and believe school systems must do more to address the issue.
Among the findings from the third annual Clean Air Survey of North American Educators:
- Among survey participants, only 36% of teachers in the United States and 13% in Canada rate the air quality in their classrooms as "good" or "excellent."
- 83% of teachers are worried that poor indoor air quality contributes to respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
- 46% of educators believe their school lacks the necessary technology to improve indoor air quality
- 99% of teachers surveyed say "clean indoor air is a right" that is essential for the well-being of students and staff.
The survey, conducted by Fellowes, a company specializing in air quality management, includes responses from more than 1,200 K-12 educators.
Nearly 36% of educators assert that their schools made no improvements to indoor air quality from 2023.
As part of the survey, teachers relayed their individual concerns, such as frequent personal illnesses they attribute to poor air quality, and frustration with outdated infrastructure, including windows that do not open and visible mold in their room.
Only 9% of teachers in the United States and 35% in Canada state that they have an air purifier in their classroom. Several respondents also expressed concerns about schools failing to maintain filters in provided air purifiers as well as vents that are visibly dust-clogged.
