Teachers across the United States and Canada are deeply concerned about the quality of their classroom air and believe school districts must do more to address the issue.

That’s according to the third annual Clean Air Survey of North American Educators from Fellowes. The study, which surveyed more than 1,200 K-12 teachers, underscores the critical role of clean air in fostering healthy and productive learning environments.

Key findings include:

• A Right to Breathe Clean Air: Nearly all teachers (99%) believe “clean indoor air is a right” that is essential for the well-being of students and staff.
• Poor Air Quality Ratings: Only 36% of teachers in the United States and just 13% in Canada rate the air quality in their classrooms as “good” or “excellent.”
• Health Concerns: A significant majority (83%) of teachers are worried that poor indoor air quality contributes to respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
• Lack of Resources: Nearly half (46%) of educators report their school as lacking the necessary technology to improve indoor air quality, and only 23% of teacher requests for indoor air quality improvements were granted.

According to Fellowes, the results of this year’s survey show an evident disparity between air quality needs and solutions. Nearly 36% of educators shared that their schools made no improvements to indoor air quality in 2024 from 2023, and the lack of air purifiers rose—in 2023, 40% of educators reported the absence of air purification units in their schools, which has since risen by 6%.

“Research consistently shows that poor indoor air quality can hinder cognitive function, directly impacting students’ ability to learn,” said Jason Jones, Fellowes’ director of air quality management. “Implementing air quality solutions in schools isn’t just an investment in infrastructure; it’s a simple and cost-effective step that districts can take to safeguard the health and well-being of students and staff while fostering their success.”

As part of the survey, educators shared personal experiences with classroom air quality. Teachers described issues, such as frequent personal illnesses they attribute to poor air quality, and frustration with outdated infrastructure, including windows that do not open and visible mold in their room.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, whether provided by the school or purchased personally. Several respondents expressed concerns about schools failing to maintain filters in provided air purifiers while others indicated vents are visibly dust-clogged.

Read the full results of the survey here.

To learn more about improving indoor air quality and creating healthy environments, don’t miss Facilities Management Advisor’s upcoming webinar “How to Turn Your Facilities into Healthy Buildings,” on March 19. More info and FREE registration are available here.

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