This program began as a pilot at elementary schools in Marion County, implemented by Improving Kids’ Environment and the City of Indianapolis Knozone program, through a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Today, the “Smart Schools Don’t Idle” program is offered statewide and is completely free to participating schools.
An increasingly common cause of children missing school is asthma, and air pollution is one of the common asthma triggers. Studies have linked high pollution levels at schools to increased absence and lower academic performance. Even with the high price of gasoline, many people do not understand that idling vehicles can create air pollution “hot spots” that can bring on an asthma attack and make even healthy children and adults feel poorly (headaches, itchy eyes, sore throats). On school grounds, idling vehicles include school buses, parents waiting to pick up or drop off children from school or other activities, and delivery vehicles. Often, the pickup/dropoff areas are located near fresh air intakes, so the vehicle exhaust is drawn right into classroom areas. Improving air quality in and around the school buildings will make students and teachers feel better and will help reduce one of the key triggers of asthma.
School buses are often left idling, meaning their engines are running while they are parked. Many school districts and communities are working to reduce school bus idling in order to reduce fuel use and reduce emissions. Click here to check out our School Bus Idling Facts
As part of the program, we will provide:
- Idle-Free Zone signs for posting on school grounds.
- Presentations on how air pollution affects children’s health and vehicle idling in particular at Parent Teacher Association meetings, staff meetings or other appropriate sessions (See Great Reasons Not to Idle and the Idling Quiz)
- Lesson Plans: We have appropriate curriculum units about idling, air pollution, health, and economics suitable for Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, and High Schools during math or science class. The curriculum is designed to meet the Indiana academic standards for the appropriate grade level, and encourage students to be proactive about environmental stewardship.
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Schools can show their commitment to improving the health of their school environment by joining the program and pledging to take a variety of steps to educate and improve air quality on school grounds. Check out the Smart Schools Don't Idle Commitment.
Thanks to Duke Energy for funding the Smart Schools Don't Idle signs.
For more information about Smart Schools Don’t Idle, please contact Ashley Sims at asims@ikecoalition.org.
