K-12 Students Learn About Clean Air

This summer, The Clean Air Campaign announced its refreshed and expanded Clean Air Schools education program. Starting the school year off strong, 41 schools have already joined the program, initiating projects to educate their students about the importance of clean air.

"We've seen unprecedented interest in the Clean Air Schools program so far this year," said Susan Bacon, director of education for The Clean Air Campaign. "The program is easy to implement and schools can select projects that best fit their needs. Schools can register at any time and we're anticipating that additional schools will join us as the year progresses."

Clean Air Schools currently include:

Cobb County: Blackwell Elementary; East Side Elementary; Garrison Mill Elementary; Shallowford Falls Elementary

DeKalb County: Atlanta Area School for the Deaf; DeKalb Elementary School of Arts at Hooper Alexander; Huntley Hills Elementary and Montessori School; Murphey Candler Elementary; Redan Elementary; Stone Mill Elementary; Fairington Elementary

Fulton County: Amana Academy; Barnwell Elementary; Esther Jackson Elementary; Fulton Science Academy (Middle School); High Meadows School (Elementary and Middle); Ocee Elementary; The Weber School (High School)

Gwinnett County: Arcado Elementary; B.B. Harris Elementary; Brookwood High School; Camp Creek Elementary; Corley Elementary; Duncan Elementary; Dyer Elementary; Five Forks Middle School; Fort Daniel Elementary; Jackson Elementary; Kanoheda Elementary; KE Taylor Elementary; McKendree Elementary; Norcross High School; Pinckneyville Middle; Puckett's Mill Elementary; R.D. Head Elementary; Rebecca Minor Elementary; R.L. Norton Elementary; Simpson Elementary; Sugar Hill Elementary; Sycamore Elementary; W.J. Cooper Elementary

The Clean Air Schools program, revamped this year, teaches students about air quality through educational projects that encourage them to take action for positive changes within the school and community. To participate, schools select one of the five projects, but many schools choose more than one. The projects include:

* A no-idling campaign that reduces harmful smog-forming emissions
* An educational musical assembly program that features BAIR, the Better Air
Bear (geared toward K-5, available in metro Atlanta only)
* Georgia Performance Standards-based air quality lesson plans for grades
3-12, available for download at CleanAirCampaign.com
* Ride There! for Clean Air, a program to encourage bus ridership
* Walk There! for Clean Air, a program to encourage walking to school

Of the 41 Clean Air Schools, 39 will implement no-idle campaigns to help eliminate unnecessary idling on school grounds which causes air pollution and places students' developing lungs at risk. Thanks to a grant from The UPS Foundation, The Clean Air Campaign will provide all the materials needed to employ the no-idle campaigns at no cost to the schools.

Brookwood and Norcross High Schools in Gwinnett, The Weber School in Fulton and the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in DeKalb are the first four high schools in the state to become Clean Air Schools. All four schools will implement no-idle programs. The Atlanta Area School for the Deaf and The Weber School will also incorporate air quality lesson plans into their high school science curriculum for hands-on learning about the environment.

"For the first time, high schools can benefit from our education program as well," said Bacon. "The Clean Air Schools no-idle project is an excellent service learning opportunity for high school students. For example, student clubs can take ownership of the program by conducting the ŒSurPrize' Patrols themselves to award drivers for not idling. We're excited to follow the progress of our programs in the high school learning environment."

Registration is open and schools around the state can apply for the program at any time. For more information about the program or to become a Clean Air School, visit CleanAirCampaign.com or email schools CleanAirCampaign.com.

Each day, these programs reduce 1.2 million miles of vehicle travel and keep 600 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe. For more information, call (1-877) CLEANAIR ((1-877) 253-2624).