California’s Cleaning for Healthy Schools Pilot Project

Project Description andMini-Grants Application

The Green Schools Initiative and the Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program (part of the California Department of Public Health-Occupational Health Branch) have created a mini-grants award program for school districts in California. We are looking to partner with school districts to pilot green cleaning products and methods in 3-5 of their schools.

How to Apply: Please complete the application on the next two pages to participate in California’s Cleaning for Healthy Schools Pilot Project. Return the application via email by Monday, August 31, 2009 to <>.

Districts selected to participate in the project will receive:

  • From $1,000 to $3,000 per district to support healthier cleaning practices in schools.
  • Training on healthier cleaning in schools, assistance in reducing cleaning costs, methods for purchasing safer cleaning products, and help to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals among cleaning staff, school personnel, and students.
  • A Commendation sent to the school board, school superintendent and the city council recognizing the school district’s successful efforts in improving its cleaning practices.
  • A Certificate of Recognition presented by the California Department of Public Healthand the Green Schools Initiative.
  • Possible media recognition in local and regional newspapers.

If selected, participants will:

  • Organize a workshop with custodial staff for training provided by Green Schools Initiative and California Dept. of Public Health,
  • Identify custodial staff to field test and evaluate green cleaning products and practices at 3-5 schools over a period of 6 months, and
  • Once the pilot project begins, provide a short description of how you plan to use mini-grant funds. Grants will be awarded for cleaning equipment, microfiber cloths, training, or other relevant needs.

Rationale for Project and About Us

School custodial staff and teachers report some of the highest rates of work-related asthma. More than 1 million children in California suffer from asthma and it is the primary cause of school absenteeism from a chronic illness. Exposure to chemicals in cleaning products can cause and trigger asthma. This pilot project aims to safeguard workers’ and students’ health through the use of less-toxic cleaning products. The Occupational Health Branch is a program in the California Department of Public Health devoted to improving worker health and safety through prevention activities ( Green Schools Initiative is a non-profitorganization that works to improve the environmental health and sustainability of K-12 schools across California (

Mini-Grants Application

California’s Cleaning for Healthy Schools Pilot Project

To submit your application, please type in your answers to the questions below and send an email to by August 31, 2009. For questions or assistance, email or call Debbie Shrem (510.620.5672) or Deborah Moore (, 510.525.1026).

  1. Contact information

Name/Title of person applying

School district

Address

Phone number

Email address

  1. How is asthma a problem in your school district?

Describe in 2-3 sentences how asthma affects your school district’s population of students and staff. You can find and report the rate of asthma in your county for children 5-17 by going to the following website:

  1. Overview of School District

In 1-2 sentences, tell us about your school district. Include the number and type of schools, total number of students, and demographics of your student population. You can findthis information about your school by going to

  • Under Select Report, you can click on Profile of District, select your County, and your District.
  • Under the General Information tab, cut and paste the table entitled, “Schools by Type.”
  • Under the Students tab, cut and paste the Students by Ethnicity, and Special Programs tables into your report
  1. Overview of County
  2. Is your district rural, urban, or suburban?
  3. What is the county’s population? If you do not know, you can find your county’s population at:
  1. School Participation
  2. How many schools within your district would be available for the pilot?
  3. What type of schools (elementary, middle, or high school) would be available for the pilot?
  4. Do you have interest from custodial staff in green cleaning? If yes, please briefly describe.
  1. Rationale for Green Cleaning Pilot Project

In 3-4 sentences, tell us what interests you about participating in this pilot project.

  1. Cleaning Products (this question is optional)

If you cannot answer the questions at this time, we can collect this information at a later date.

  • Are you using any green cleaning products or practices now?
  • If so, please name the cleaning products your school district uses the most.

General purpose cleaner:

Bathroom cleaner:

Floor cleaner:

Disinfectants:

Hand soaps:

Floor-care (strippers, finishes):

Other:

  • Do any of these products carry an eco-label, such as Green Seal, Design for the Environment, or Eco-Logo?