{"id":128586,"date":"2025-08-18T16:50:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T20:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/?p=128586"},"modified":"2025-08-18T16:46:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T20:46:53","slug":"california-parents-guardians-and-teachers-opt-in-for-school-pesticide-notifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/california-parents-guardians-and-teachers-opt-in-for-school-pesticide-notifications\/","title":{"rendered":"California Parents, Guardians, and Teachers: Opt-In for School Pesticide Notifications"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Aug. 18, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — California Safe Schools, a nonprofit dedicated to children\u2019s environmental health and safety, reminds parents, guardians, teachers and school staff at all California K-12 public schools and child care centers to file the\u00a0Right to Know\u00a0Pesticide Use Notification form at the start of the school year. This form is mandated under California legislation, The Healthy Schools Act.<\/p>\n

\"California
Image caption: California Safe Schools.<\/em><\/p>\n

Filing this form with your school office ensures you receive advance notification of any pesticide applications in or around the school site. It is a critical safeguard and part of each school\u2019s commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment.<\/p>\n

Under The Healthy Schools Act, a \u201cschoolsite\u201d is defined as:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Any facility used for public day care, kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school purposes. The term includes the buildings or structures, playgrounds, athletic fields, school vehicles, or any other area of school property visited or used by pupils. \u201cSchoolsite\u201d does not include postsecondary educational facilities attended by secondary pupils or private day care or school facilities.<\/p>\n

The Right to Know Notification<\/em> requires schools to provide at least 72 hours\u2019 advance notice before any pesticide application on a campus.<\/p>\n

Emergency Applications<\/em>: In rare cases when pesticides must be used immediately to address a health or safety emergency, schools may apply them without the standard 72-hour advance notice. However, The Healthy Schools Act requires that the school district designee make every effort to provide the required notification even under emergency conditions.<\/p>\n

Filing the Right to Know Pesticide Use Notification<\/em> with your school\u2019s Main Office ensures you will receive alerts before applications occur. This allows parents, guardians or teachers to make informed decisions on application days. Importantly, notification can be requested for any reason, not solely for known health concerns.<\/p>\n

HISTORY<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Right to Know Pesticide Use Notification program\u00a0began with the Los Angeles Unified School District\u2019s (LAUSD) groundbreaking Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy in 1999. This policy embraces the Precautionary Principle \u2013 the idea that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or environment, precautionary measures should be taken even without conclusive scientific evidence. As part of this approach, LAUSD has not used Roundup for more than 20 years, setting an important precedent in protecting children\u2019s health. The success of the LAUSD IPM policy led directly to the passage of The California Healthy Schools Act of 2000.<\/p>\n

The “Right to Know\u201d notifications are a critical tool that ensures parents, guardians, teachers and staff remain informed, connected, and empowered within their school community. For more information about pesticide application policies at your school, visit your school\u2019s website or contact the school or school district directly” said\u00a0Robina Suwol, founder and executive director of California Safe Schools.<\/p>\n

Learn More:<\/em><\/p>\n