Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools

"An action threshold is the point at which an IPM technician takes action to reduce a pest's numbers. Sometimes an action threshold is a number, sometimes it is qualitative." This document discovers factors to consider for establishing thresholds.

Alien plants and animals in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region are best eliminated if they can be identified and if their biological needs are understood.

Beyond Pesticides is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., which works with allies in protecting public health and the environment to lead the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides. This page includes information about pesticides, children's health, and pesticide use in schools.

A variety of documents, Web links, and other resources related to the California Healthy Schools Act of 2000 are available. This site is designed for school administrators, IPM coordinators, maintenance and operations staff, parents, and teachers.

National legislation is needed to protect children from toxic pesticides used in and around schools. The School Environment Protection Act (SEPA), HR 4225 was introduced on March 20, 2012, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.

The Connecticut School IPM Program is a five-step program that includes education and training, pest monitoring, non-chemical pest management, using pesticides, and record-keeping and evaluation.

This manual is designed to help school officials and day care center owner/managers understand the principles of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program and to aid them in implementing those principles for pests in their facilities. Published by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

This resource that presents the opportunity for K-6 educators to engage students in STEM educational objectives and interdisciplinary learning through Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The curriculum provides background information, hands-on activities, worksheets and links to additional sites that teachers can utilize to engage students in formal and informal real-world settings. While some of the lessons build on previous learning, most of the lessons can stand-alone. IPM can be used as a theme in the classroom for an entire year, or as enrichment to regular classroom activities.

Glossary for IPM and entomology.

Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides commonly used in schools are identified along with known health effects (cancer, reproductive effects, neurotoxicity, kidney/liver damage, sensitizer/irritants).

Integrated Pest Management in schools and day care centers involves cooperation between school staff and pest control personnel (e.g., commercial pest management professionals or in-house staff). IPM uses a variety of non-chemical methods as well as pesticides, when needed, to reduce pest infestations to acceptable levels and to minimize children’s exposure to pesticides.

Fact sheets for specific types of pests.

U.S. Army technical guide for implementing IPM in schools and childcare facilities.

This set of ten fact sheets covers many household pest problems including cockroaches, bed bugs, ants, mice, and head lice. A key part of a larger project, these translations help to increase IPM awareness, knowledge, and skills within underserved Hispanic audiences, empowering them to adopt IPM practices. Published by Penn State Extension.

IPM principles and practices for schools, fact sheets, forms, curricula, and many resources.

This model guidance for implementation of integrated pest management in schools can be used by administrators, educators, parents and others to help inform the development, adoption and improvement of policies for school districts. It represents our recommendations for best management practices for successful implementation of pesticide safety and IPM practices in kindergarten to 12th grade schools. It is not intended to supersede state, tribal or local requirements, where those requirements are more stringent or specific.

A 24-page activity book (PDF) that introduces children to the concept of what is a pest and where to locate them.

The IPM Institute is an independent non-profit formed in 1998 to improve sustainability in agriculture and communities.

IPM educational materials, presentation slides, and brochures.

Definitions for commonly used school IPM terms are provided by The IPM Institute of North America in the appendices for the School IPM Standards.

Lessons designed for high school students to help them identify some of the synthetic chemicals they come in contact with, including pesticides, to consider how these affect people differently based upon a number of variables

Requirements, procedures, and policies for IPM in public buildings, including schools, and applicator training requirements.

Contents include a pesticide overview, pesticide safety, evaluating your pesticide risk, and pesticide information.

Links to a variety of information on IPM in different school settings.

The NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) program helps employees, employers, and unions recognize and control health hazards in their workplace. For on-site evaluations, findings are published online (without company or employee names) in NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Reports. Reports are searchable by keyword, state, industry category and subcategory, or health effect.

The North American Native Plant Society fosters native plant initiatives across the country.

This Web site is dedicated to protecting people and the environment by advancing healthy solutions to pest problems. They offer programs, publications, and information; they produce the Journal of Pesticide Reform.

This database provides information about common active ingredients found in pesticide products. Select the name of the active ingredient from the list to learn how the ingredient works, application tips, example products, and impacts to aquatic organisms, pollinators, human health, and natural enemies (beneficial insects and mites). From the University of California Statewide IPM Program.

Created in 2000 by Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network (PAN) North America, the Pesticide Info database combines publicly available data to create an interactive, searchable database of every chemical and product related to pesticide use and application.

Pesticides are an important management tool in agricultural production. They increase yields and reduce the presence of foreign materials in some commodities. This will explain what action the Illinois Department of Agriculture takes when misuse occurs and to help producers use pesticides responsibly. Includes information about reporting misuse of pesticides.

Glossary of pesticide terms; many are non-technical and linked for additional clarification

The Illinois General Assembly, in the introduction to the Illinois Pesticide Act (415 ILCS 60/1 et seq.) states: "The purpose of this Act is to regulate in the public interest the labeling, distribution, use and application of pesticides as herein defined.

Links to Minnesota information on pesticide notification in schools (Parents Right to Know Act) and IPM requirements for Minnesota schools.

PestWorld.org is the official consumer education website of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). In addition to pest control advice, information and facts verified by certified entomologists, you can search for exterminators in your area, browse insect pictures and videos, and find detailed information on specific pests to help you prevent infestations and bug problems. You can trust PestWorld.org as your main resource for credible information on arachnids, bugs, insects, rodents, pest control, and the growing professional pest control industry.

Fun activities designed for teachers in the classroom, informationon on health risks, interactive games, and facts on common pests are provided by NPMA. The introduction is animated.

This report discusses many aspects of toxic chemicals in schools, and included is pesticides, developing IPM programs and the Gold Standard School IPM Policy.

This 31-page document identifies steps, sets priorities, and provides tips for effective pest management in Illinois schools.

University of Minnesota Extension and the Department of Entomology developed a proactive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for schools in Minnesota to increase the effectiveness of school IPM programs, reduce pesticide applications and increase cost-effectiveness.

Safer Schools is intended to inform school community members and activists, policy decision makers and pest management practitioners, all of whom play critical roles in getting schools to implement effective IPM programs. This report provides comprehensive details of an IPM program by: (1) explaining what an IPM program is and why it is necessary (2) highlighting 27 school districts and individual school IPM policies and programs; and, (3) outlining the basic steps to getting a school IPM program adopted.

Search for safety data sheets (SDS), formerly called material safety data sheets (MSDS).

The Southwest Technical Resource Center offers assistance to school systems and others interested in adopting and implementing school IPM. Part of Texas A&M University Extension.

This guidance document represents U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations for the successful procurement of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) based services for kindergarten to 12th grade schools.

A clickable map provides links to current school and state pesticide policies and programs that are being adopted across the country.

Includes information about the State School Pesticide Law as well as links to local school organizations and local organization contacts.

Comprehensive list of IPM terms.

U.S. EPA process for assessing human health risk from pesticides.

This site includes biopesticide active ingredient fact sheets, lasws, international issues, storage and disposal, adverse effects reporting, restricted and cancelled uses, pesticide tolerances, and registration information sources.

These brief overviews provide basic information about some pesticide ingredients that are frequently the subject of searches on EPA's and through external search engines.

The site provides easy access to research and results on methods, tools, and data needed to improve risk assessments to protect the public.

This page provides information about implementing IPM in schools for parents, school faculty and staff, administrators, and pest management professionals

List of materials to help you start and manage IPM in your school.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally friendly, common sense approach to controlling pests. The IPM principles and benefits described here apply to any type of structure and landscaping.

This page includes information on the federal laws and regulations that govern pesticides.

In this commentary, we describe the shortcomings of the current procedures for assessing the hazards of pesticide formulations and demonstrate that inert ingredients can increase the toxicity of and potential exposure to pesticide formulations.

The University of California Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM) helps residents, growers, land managers, community leaders, and other professional pest managers prevent and solve pest problems with the least unintended impacts on people and their surroundings.