School Climate & Safety News in Brief

Millions of Children Nationwide Exposed to Lead in School Drinking Water

By Tribune News Service — April 09, 2019 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

More than two-thirds of 31 states surveyed received “failing grades” in their efforts to make inroads into the lead-contamination problem in schools, a report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund and Environment America Research & Policy Center finds.

What’s more, even the ones addressing the issue are not ridding their drinking-water systems entirely of lead, even though there is no such thing as a safe level of the neurotoxic metal, especially when it comes to children, says the report “Get the Lead Out,” a follow-up to a 2017 report of the same name.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1 part per billion. Most schools tested had at least 5 ppb, and some have much more.

There were some bright spots, including the District of Columbia, which outranked all the evaluated states for putting lead filters in drinking-water systems where children go, including schools, child care centers, and parks. Illinois got kudos for requiring its schools to take action on any lead level detected. States showing improvement included California, Oregon, and Maryland.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the April 10, 2019 edition of Education Week as Millions of Children Nationwide Exposed to Lead in School Drinking Water

Events

Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School Climate & Safety What the Research Says Digital Distractions in Class Linked to Lower Academic Performance
The 2022 Program for International Student Assessment found that two-thirds of U.S. students get distracted by digital devices in class.
2 min read
Kids in middle school working on assignment together
E+ / Getty
School Climate & Safety Opinion Restorative Justice Is Not Just an Alternative to Discipline
But done correctly, the practice can create a culture of connection, belonging, mutual respect, safety, and trust.
14 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
School Climate & Safety Gunlocks to Be Given Free to Tucson Unified Schools' Families Who Ask
Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo says students often come to school with unauthorized firearms because adults don't have gun locks.
Jessica Votipka, Arizona Daily Star
2 min read
Displayed is a Glock 17 pistol fitted a with a cable style gun lock in Philadelphia on May 10, 2023.
Displayed is a Glock 17 pistol fitted a with a cable style gun lock in Philadelphia on May 10, 2023.
Matt Rourke/AP
School Climate & Safety Opinion Should Classroom Discipline Be Based in ‘Restorative Justice’?
Discipline often divides conservatives and liberals. Is there room for common ground?
9 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty