Using the integrated pest management approach at schools and childcare facilities has many benefits. Research has demonstrated:

• IPM can be more effective than routine pesticide treatments,
• IPM can cost less over the long term, and
• IPM can reduce children's exposure to pesticides. That's important because children may be more sensitive to their toxic effects.

Many states have School IPM programs. There are many resources for people who want to start using IPM in schools, including sample forms for professionals and pest-specific action plans.

Additional Resources:

General pest management

• Integrated Pest Management in Schools (infographic) - California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)
• Contacts About Managing Pests - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Pest Control in the School Environment - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Managing Pests in Schools - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Reducing Pesticide Exposure at Schools - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• School IPM Resource List - IPM Institute of North America
• A Strategic Plan for Integrated Pest Management in Schools in the United States - IPM Institute of North America
• Regulating Pesticide Use in United States Schools - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
• School IPM Manual - BioIntegral Resource Center (BIRC)
• Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• National School IPM Information Source - University of Florida
• IPM Cost Calculator for Schools (requires registration) - Texas A&M
• School and Child Day Care Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - California Department of Pesticide Regulations
• Healthy Child Care - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Recommendations for the Classroom - PennState Extension
• School IPM: School Gardens - Washington State University

Specific pest management

• Preventing Termites (infographic | video) - California Department of Pesticide Regulation
• Safer and Effective Cockroach Control for Buses and Trains - California Department of Public Health
• Rodenticides: How do they fit into your IPM program? - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
• Classroom Spiders: Best Management Practices (infographic) - California Department of Pesticide Regulation
• Schoolyard Spiders: Best Management Practices (infographic) - California Department of Pesticide Regulation
• Understanding and Managing Ticks: A Guide for Schools, Child Care, and Camps - Cornell University

Videos:

• IPM for Childcare Centers: Inspecting Your Facility Inside and Out - PennState Extension
• IPM for Childcare Centers: Hows and Whys to Doing an IPM Inspection - PennState Extension
• Integrated Pest Management for Child Care Centers Video Series - California Department of Pesticide Regulation
• School IPM videos - Colorado State University IPM Program

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.