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The return to in-person learning marks a significant milestone in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. With the new school year looming, millions of students and teachers are headed back to the classroom for the first time since March 2020. Schools have been planning for this return for months. In the face of new COVID-19 variants, it’s crucial for administrators to consider how to keep students and staff safe.

The CDC offers guidelines for schools to improve building ventilation to prevent the spread of viruses. The recommendations include improving central air filtration by ensuring filters are appropriately sized and within their recommended service life ^{( 1 )} and supplementing existing ventilation systems with portable air cleaners.

Using portable air filtration systems in combination with universal masking can reduce exposure to COVID-19 aerosols by up to 90%. ^{( 2 )} Air filters offer a much more affordable option versus the cost of overhauling a school’s HVAC system.

Contaminated Air Can Lead to Learning Issues

Even before the pandemic, poor air quality has been shown to negatively affect learning, with lowered test scores and increased behavioral incidents and absences in students exposed to pollutants. ^{( 3 )}

In response to concerns about air quality, the American Rescue Plan provides two years of emergency funding for schools to improve indoor air and address other environmental health hazards. In a recent report, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health urged schools to invest in solutions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases and improve student learning. ^{( 4 )}

Their recommendations include:

When it comes to air filters, size matters – particle size, that is. Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERVs) dictate efficiency. ^{( 5 )} A higher number indicates the filter can capture smaller particles of bacteria, dust, mold, pollen and viruses.

High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are widely considered the gold standard in filtration, particularly with the coronavirus, which travels in smaller-sized particles than many other airborne contaminants. HEPA filters must be at least 99.97 percent efficient at capturing particles 0.3 µm in size and have even higher efficiency for smaller and larger particles.

Some school ventilation systems aren’t equipped to handle HEPA filters, but portable filtration options are available and recommended by ASHRAE. ^{( 6 )} New York City School District, Chicago Public Schools and hundreds of other districts across North America are investing in portable air purifiers before reopening this fall. ^{( 7 )}

Create Safe Learning Environments with Solutions for Cleaner Air

The American Rescue Plan was created in part to support the safe reopening of most schools. While keeping schools closed removes a source of COVID-19 risk for students, teachers and staff, virtual learning isn’t the best option for all students. ^{( 8 )} There are many community-wide benefits to in-person learning, such as:

Investing in portable air filtration systems is one way for schools to reopen safely, improve indoor air quality and ensure students can learn to their full potential.

Learn more about how the JADE Purification System helps create safer, healthier learning environments this school year and beyond.

About the Author

Ashley Wallinger is a content marketing specialist at Trox. She began her career in broadcast journalism, working as a producer at two TV stations, where she created content for news broadcasts and digital platforms. She has since held roles as a digital copywriter for a marketing agency, as well as a social media specialist overseeing content creation and analytics for the Scottsdale Unified School District in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her background and profile can be found on LinkedIn.