EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The majority of Rhode Island schools lack adequate ventilation systems and face issues with poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Poor air quality in schools negatively affects students’ health, attendance, and performance, a particularly urgent concern given Rhode Island’s emphasis on addressing chronic absenteeism. Children with asthma are disproportionately impacted by poor air quality. Improved indoor air quality can reduce absenteeism by up to 17% and can raise student test scores. The state’s recent $5 billion bond investment in school construction has created timely momentum to address indoor air quality. Building on the momentum from previous bills on indoor air quality in the 2025 RI legislative session, there is an opportunity to act in the 2026 session. With a favorable political environment and proven examples from other states, Rhode Island has an opportunity to lead on IAQ policy to make environments healthier and safer for students and educators.

PROBLEM ANALYSIS

Rhode Island’s public schools are aging, with an average building age of 60 years, which is well above the national average of 50 years. Half of the schools lack sufficient basic HVAC systems to provide the clean air children need to live in. Critically, ventilation is only required to be checked once after construction, so years can go by without ventilation systems and air quality assessments. As a result, many classrooms experience poor air quality due to mold, inadequate filtration, particulate buildup, and emissions from indoor materials.

A growing body of peer‐reviewed research shows that improving indoor air quality reduces illness‐related student absenteeism, with asthma being the leading cause. The state’s childhood asthma rate is among the highest nationwide – 25% above the average. Poor IAQ also undermines learning. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, a key indicator of ventilation efficiency, can cause brain function to decline by 15% above 900 ppm and by up to 50% above 1,400 ppm. In contrast, schools with installed air filters saw significant gains in students’ test scores. The effects of poor IAQ extend beyond students: teachers breathe the same air, and parents often miss work to care for their sick children. Thus, clean indoor air is a basic human need.

SOLUTIONS

Despite the clear evidence, there are no federal standards regulating indoor air quality, leaving states responsible for developing solutions. Several states have set precedents by passing legislation regarding IAQ standards in schools, including California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Rhode Island is well-positioned to act, having recently invested $5 billion in school construction and demonstrated a strong commitment to reducing chronic absenteeism. The Brown University Pandemic Center also recently published a State Guide for Clean Indoor Air, with 20 contributing organizations, which outlines practical action plans for state leaders, including governors and schools.

PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS IN RHODE ISLAND

In the 2025 legislative session, two companion bills were introduced: H5597 in the House and S0977 in the Senate. The proposed bills included three critical provisions:
1. Setting Health-Based Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: The bills call for the Department of Health to establish voluntary guidelines for IAQ. This includes basic
measures such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, PM2.5, and ventilation.
2. HVAC System Upgrades: Schools with existing HVAC systems would need to upgrade to MERV-13 filters, as feasible. For older schools without HVAC systems, the bill mandates that they achieve the highest MERV rating possible without significantly reducing the lifespan of the system.
3. Five-Year IAQ Assessment: The bills require the Department of Education to incorporate ventilation and air quality assessments into the School Building Authority's existing facilities inspections every five years, providing a cost-effective approach.

The Senate Bill passed unanimously and with bipartisan support, while the companion House bill had not yet moved through committee. Still, the effort demonstrated strong coalition building and growing public support. Individuals who testified in support of the bill were from organizations such as: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, American Lung Association, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, Conservation Law Foundation, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, and Brown University.

CALL TO ACTION

Rhode Island has the opportunity to advance legislation as a crucial first step toward improving indoor air quality in schools. By supporting the introduction of bills in the 2026 legislative session that build on H5977 and S0977, legislators can ensure that there is the will and resources to act. The governor should also include indoor air quality in the Attendance Matters RI Campaign against chronic absenteeism to help keep students healthy and safe at school.

All schools should have a healthy indoor environment and well-functioning, routinely checked ventilation systems that are integrated into an automated and cost-effective process. Indoor air quality deserves a permanent place in Rhode Island’s education and health agenda. Just as we demand access to clean food, water, and outdoor air, we must demand higher indoor air quality for every child in every classroom.

This policy brief was prepared by Minh Hoang and Dr. Georgia Lagoudas at Brown University. For more information, contact georgia_lagoudas@brown.edu.

Created in partnership with the Brown University Pandemic Center, The Brown University Watson School of International and Public Affairs, The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and Breathe Providence.