Asthma is the top cause of absenteeism in U.S. public K–12 schools. In Oregon, common school pests such as mice, cockroaches and flies are known asthma triggers and can transmit serious diseases like E. coli, leptospirosis, Lyme disease and salmonellosis.
Misuse of pesticides in schools poses additional health risks, both short and long term. School districts often struggle with identifying the root causes of pest problems, with “don’t know” being the most common survey response. A 25% annual turnover among school facilities managers and integrated pest management (IPM) coordinators further complicates consistent pest and pesticide management.
The program is helping Oregon schools create safer, healthier learning environments while reducing reliance on chemical pest control.
To address these challenges, the Oregon State University Extension Service School IPM Program was created in response to a 2012 state law requiring school districts to appoint an IPM coordinator and provide annual training. This law was shaped in part by OSU faculty member Tim Stock, who contributed research and policy recommendations as part of two legislative working groups beginning in 2008.
OSU Extension built a statewide network of 15 organizations supporting school IPM implementation. It developed model IPM plan templates, annual hands-on training sessions and dozens of educational resources in collaboration with school districts and partners like the OSU Turf Management Program. The OSU School IPM website provides training materials, templates and technical guidance to coordinators.
Annual training sessions are held on school campuses and focus on real-time pest assessments and prevention strategies. Topics and materials are updated regularly based on evaluation data and participant feedback. The program emphasizes in-person training, which participants say is more effective due to opportunities for peer learning and hands-on activities.
To reduce pesticide use, the program also partnered with the Turf Management Program to support research and training in low-maintenance landscaping, weed control without herbicides and organic alternatives for school sports fields. Targeted support was also provided to federal Head Start and Oregon pre-kindergarten programs serving vulnerable children.
From 2012 to 2024, under the leadership of Stock, now the School IPM coordinator, OSU Extension trained IPM coordinators from 100% of Oregon’s 197 school districts, covering 1,255 schools and more than 540,000 students. A total of 4,700 individuals participated in 119 in-person and two virtual trainings. More than 95% reported learning something they planned to implement in their schools.
In 2024, 11 events trained coordinators from 192 districts (97.5%) and 15 of Oregon’s 17 community colleges. Evaluations showed that 99.7% learned at least one IPM practice to implement, and over 95% learned two or more.
Survey data shows over 60% of districts have reduced pesticide use, and 65% reported using low-impact pesticides when necessary. Ninety percent of districts used OSU’s model IPM plans, which have also been requested by Tribal schools in EPA Region 9.
Through legislative support, research partnerships and ongoing education, OSU Extension’s School IPM Program is helping Oregon schools create safer, healthier learning environments while reducing reliance on chemical pest control.