Thousands of kids miss school each school year, due to air quality concerns

Colorado Department of Health and Environment and University of Colorado Boulder Address Air Quality Concerns in Colorado Classrooms

Air quality in Colorado has been a growing concern, leading to thousands of students missing school each year, according to state officials. To tackle this issue, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment and the University of Colorado Boulder have launched a plan to add indoor quality systems to thousands of classrooms across the state.

Statistics from the Colorado Department of Education reveal that over 113,000 students in Colorado are chronically absent from school within a single school year.

This means that one in five kids across the state is affected by this issue. Dr. Serene Almomen, CEO and Co-Founder of Attune, is one of the individuals spearheading this air quality initiative. She emphasizes that not all students have the option to stay home, so ensuring good air quality in schools is crucial.

Almomen believes that when it comes to schools, children and teachers have no choice but to be present. Remote learning is not always an effective alternative, and students need access to a safe and healthy learning environment.

Attune is working to optimize HVAC systems in schools, considering factors such as infrastructure, classroom attendance, location, and the changing seasons. Their sensor-based platform, the first of its kind, can detect changes in temperature, humidity, CO2, and other gases and contaminants. Through a user-friendly dashboard, staff can monitor and identify any potential air quality issues in the classroom.

READ MORE:

• A SPIKE IN DROPOUTS AND ABSENCES HAS OVERTAKEN COLORADO SCHOOLS

• OUR SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF REMOTE LEARNING

• COLORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDER FIRE FOR ALLEGEDLY DENYING SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

• COLORADO KIDS LIVING IN POVERTY COULD ACCESS 30 HOURS OF PRESCHOOL NEXT YEAR

Attune has already implemented these systems in 369 Colorado public school buildings, encompassing more than 3,000 classrooms in approximately 25% of Colorado school districts.

The initiative is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some of the school districts benefiting from this program include Denver Public Schools with 117 schools, Jefferson County R-1 with 99 schools, Poudre R-1 with 49 schools, St Vrain Valley RE1J with 45 schools, and Adams County 14 with 11 schools.