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School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Grants

EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) has launched an initiative to promote expanded use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in schools. To provide greater protection for children's health by employing IPM as a pollution prevention tool, EPA is increasing its commitment to school IPM and redirecting resources to increase the attention and support given to school IPM programs. This effort is intended to accelerate the move from demonstration to the implementation of school IPM to ensure that the millions of children in our nation's schools will benefit from the protection afforded by quality IPM programs.

IPM is a sustainable approach to managing pests that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks. A school IPM program uses easily implemented strategies to reduce sources of food, water, and shelter for pests in school buildings and grounds. Verifiable school IPM is an ongoing activity that includes all of these documented elements: understanding pests; setting action thresholds for key pests, i.e., knowing when to take action against key pests; monitoring for pests, their locations and populations; removing conditions that allow pest infestation; and using one or more effective pest control methods including sanitation, structural maintenance, and nonchemical methods in place of or in combination with pesticides.

As part of this commitment, EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, in coordination with the EPA Regions, is initiating a grant program to support projects that, through research, development, monitoring, public education, training, demonstrations, or studies, will support recipients’ efforts to increase IPM adoption by kindergarten to 12th grade public and tribal schools.

Who Can Apply for a School IPM Grant?
Funding will be available to:

States
U.S. territories or possessions
Federally recognized Tribes
Native American Organizations
Public and private universities and colleges
Schools and school districts
Other public or private nonprofit institutions
Local governments
Individuals

For-profit organizations are not eligible. Non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are also not eligible to apply.

What Types of Projects Will the School IPM Grants Support?

The School Integrated Pest Management Grants will support projects that promote the adoption of verifiable IPM practices in the nation's kindergarten through 12th grade public and tribal schools. Proposed projects must further through research, development, monitoring, public education, training, demonstrations, or studies the adoption of verifiable IPM by kindergarten to 12th grade public and tribal schools that identify and reduce the risks associated with pesticide use. EPA strongly encourages projects that utilize consortia, partnerships, and other collaborative means in conducting the project. Proposed projects must conform to applicable state and/or tribal pesticide application requirements and IPM regulations. This program will not support projects the primary aim of which is to address the use of antimicrobial and cleaning agents in schools or pest management in school greenhouses or demonstration gardens.

A summary listing of the school IPM grants funded by EPA since 1996 is available. Additional information is also available on the school IPM grants funded in 2012.

CESA 10 - Expanding IPM in Wisconsin Schools Using the Cooperative Educational Service Agency Model (print version, 2 pp, 644k, about PDF)
City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board - Verifiable School Integrated Pest Management in the New Orleans Parish School System (print version, 2 pp, 621k, about PDF)
Colorado State University - Expanding Verifiable Integrated Pest Management in Colorado and Utah Public Schools (print version, 2 pp, 637k, about PDF)
Improving Kids' Environment, Inc. - The Midwest U.S. Consortium: Expanding IPM in Public Schools (print version, 2 pp, 621k,about PDF)
University of Florida - A School IPM Consortium Reaching One Million Children (print version, 2 pp, 670k,about PDF)
Washington State University - Expanding Verifiable Integrated Pest Management in Pacific Northwest K-12 Schools (print version, PDF, 2 pp, 607k,about PDF)