School IPM, or Integrated Pest Management, is an approach for controlling pest problems without unnecessary pesticide use. If your school suffers from infestations of rats, cockroaches, lice or bedbugs, The Pest Defense for Healthy Schools can help. The Pest Defense, formerly known as Stop School Pests, is an online, school health training course for K-12 employees to improve school health. Users can choose from nine online courses, each created for different school staff groups.

Students spend an average of 30 hours each week in school. Therefore, an unhealthy learning environment with hazards from pests and pesticides has a profound effect on their health. For example, mice and cockroaches produce asthma-triggering allergens. In addition, over-reliance on pesticides exposes children and staff to dangerous chemicals. School IPM is a powerful tool for addressing these challenges. In fact, schools transitioning to IPM have reduced pest complaints and pesticide use by over 70%!

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends school IPM as a proven approach for creating healthy, safe spaces for students and staff. Start your training now and learn how you can make a difference at your school.