The California Department of Education (CDE) is announcing updated School Outdoor Air Quality Activity Recommendations(PDF), intended to provide California’s local educational agencies (LEAs) with resources to make informed decisions about conducting school activities and closures based on local air quality conditions when their communities are impacted by wildfire smoke.
To use the guidelines, LEAs will need to monitor local air quality conditions using air quality index (AQI) tracking tools recommended by their local Air District on the California Air Resources Board website. LEAs can then align their local AQI numbers within the CDE Air Quality Index and Activity Recommendation chart as well as consider factors such as the availability and quality of school building air filtration systems, to make informed decisions on whether to cancel classes, remain open, or modify school activities due to smoky conditions. The chart serves as an added resource for LEAs to consider and is not intended to supersede existing policies and guidelines established by local authorities.
The guidance was made possible through a collaboration between the CDE, the California Department of Public Health, the California Air Resources Board, the California County Superintendents, and the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association.
For more resources and general guidance for schools regarding air quality, please see the CDE Air Quality web page.
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