Integrated Pest Management Tools: Resources to Support IPM Implementation
There are various sources of documents to use in your school integrated pest management (IPM) program. The examples listed here provide a basic set of information to start with.
IPM Benefits
- Preventing Pests for Healthier Schools: The Health Case for Integrated Pest Management - information and research on the health benefits of using IPM in schools.
- Making Pests a Thing of the Past: Integrated Pest Management for Healthier Schools and Students - summary of "Preventing Pests for Healthier Schools."
IPM Strategies and Success Stories
EPA Resources
- EPA’s Healthy School Environmental Assessment Tool (HealthySEATv2) - an easy to use software program designed to help school districts evaluate and manage ALL of their environmental, safety and health issues.
- Pest Control in the School Environment: Adopting IPM - describes seven steps toward developing an IPM program for your school. It is designed to encourage and assist school officials in examining and improving their pest management practices. It identifies ways to reduce the use of pesticides in school buildings and landscapes, as well as alternative methods of managing pests commonly found in schools.
IPM Stakeholder Developed Resources
- Stop School Pests - A National IPM Standard Training and Certificate ProgramExit- The Stop School Pests project was initiated to address the need for a recognized, standardized, peer-reviewed national IPM training program for school communities. Materials for in-class and on-line training can be found on this site.
- iSchool Pest Manager - a Central Hub for School IPM MaterialsExitThe iSchool Pest Manager is a central hub for IPM materials for school districts’ use in verifiable IPM. The overall goal is to increase the numbers of schools conducting verifiable school IPM programs, improving human health, the environment and/or the school community.
- EPA works closely with school IPM experts and other stakeholders around the country. Many of these experts are from state and local governments and the others are closely affiliated with the State Cooperative Extension.The eXtension WebsiteExitis research based and materials are vetted and evaluated from these experts and then posted on the website. Visit this site for more information as it pertains to pest identification, IPM strategies and other school IPM resources.
- University of Florida's National School IPM Information SourceExit- This website provides a wealth of valuable, free, useful information for school administrators, staff members, pest managers, and parents to start an IPM program.
- Texas A&M University's IPM Technical Resource Center- The center serves Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. You can contact the center at 1-877-747-6872.Exit
- Integrated Pest Management in Schools (A Better Method)Exit- This Midwest Pesticide Action Center YouTube video explains IPM in simple language and describes how to get started implementing IPM.
- ABCs of IPM Training SeriesExit - This video is designed to introduce IPM concepts and help school district personnel implement IPM programs. It is available from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
Pesticide Safety Resources
EPA's Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety
Model School IPM Policy
We recommend that all school districts implement a policy addressing the safest possible use of pesticides and the implementation of a coordinated IPM program as part of a long-term and sustainable approach to mitigating pests and their impacts on children’s health. By publishing a policy, the district leadership establishes a commitment to promoting a healthy environment where students are more productive.
This model pesticide safety and IPM guidance policy addresses not only the safety concerns when using pesticides, but also focuses on solution-based approaches to pests problems in our schools. This is a proactive rather than reactive approach. As a result, it provides the school district, and its individual school campuses, a sustainable and long-term pest management alternative to traditional pesticide-only approaches.
This model policy represents our recommendation for best management practices for the successful implementation of pesticide safety and integrated pest management in kindergarten to 12th grade schools and is not intended to supersede state, tribal or local requirements, where those requirements are more stringent or specific.
Find out more about sustainable approaches to verifiable integrated pest management in schools.
The model policy is available for use by administrators, educators, parents and others to help inform the development, adoption and/or improvement of policies for your district. The model policy is presented in sections in italics. Each section is introduced with background and rationale.
View the model policy.Word Version(7 pp, 46 K)
School Integrated Pest Management Bid and Contract Guidance
This guidance document represents U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations for the successful procurement of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) based services for kindergarten to 12th grade schools. It is not intended to supersede state, tribal or local requirements. You should modify the suggestions here to tailor them to your specific needs. Contact your State Lead Agency for pesticide regulation to determine any certification, licensing or permitting requirements for commercial pesticide applicators and commercial pesticide application businesses as the requirements and terminology vary by state.
- School Integrated Pest Management Program Bid and Contract Guidance (PDF)
- School Integrated Pest Management Program Bid and Contract Guidance (DOCX)(9 pp, 28 K)
Sample Pest Management Contracts
Some school districts choose to procure their pest management services through contracts with pest management service providers. The following information can help school staff and officials responsible for procuring pest management services ensure they are soliciting and receiving IPM-based services. While these resources provide guidance in developing your contract, your IPM coordinator, legal consultants, and university extension faculty should participate in your contract development.
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- Introduction to the School IPM Welcome Packet and Model Contract - University of Florida
- Sample School IPM Contract (PDF) (50 pp, 1.34 Mb, About PDF) - Howard County (Maryland) Public School System
For More Information on School IPM Contracts
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- Contract Guide Specifications for Integrated Pest Management Programs in Government Buildings and Schools (PDF)(8 pp, 103 K) - US General Services Agency, 1999. Suggested guidelines for use when contracting with a pest management professional for services, including inspection, IPM plan, use of pesticides, recordkeeping.
- Model Integrated Pest Management Policy Statement (PDF)(5 pp, 132 K) - Texas Cooperative Extension. Includes definitions, development of IPM plans, essential IPM principles, pesticides use is school facilities, cooperation with IPM coordinator, contractual agreements with IPM providers, facilities planning, cooperation with regulatory agencies, and licensing and training for pesticide applicators.
- Contracting Guidelines for IPM Service in Maryland Public Schools (PDF) (111 pp, 4.04 MB, About PDF)- Includes information for contracting structural pest control and grounds maintenance services.
- U.S. General Services Administration Structural Pest Control Business Practices - School officials may find these guidelines useful when creating bid specifications for pest management proposals. These specifications are provided as a starting place for those schools which outsource pest management.
Pest Sighting Log
A Pest Sighting Log (PDF)(1 pg, 4.8 K) Exitshould be kept for each facility, building, floor, or room, whichever is most practical with your specific IPM plan. An individual (possibly the IPM Manager) should be identified to maintain and be responsible for this document. All employees in the given area should know who this person is and report any pest sightings accordingly. The pest manager reviews this document at the beginning of each visit and responds appropriately. Any treatments made should be recorded on this document by the pest manager. Review of this form should be included as part of the pest manager's periodic inspection process.
Cafeteria Inspection Checklist
Because food handling areas tend to be the source of many pest infestations, a separate inspection form is provided for cafeterias. This document can be used by the pest manager to ensure that a thorough inspection is completed:
- One of these checklists should be completed during each inspection.
- The pest manager should not limit the inspection solely to what is indicated on the checklist.
- Comments on the checklist provided by the pest manager should be reviewed by the IPM Coordinator or Maintenance personnel and appropriate action taken.
View Cafeteria Inspection Checklist (PDF)(2 pp, 7.3 K) Exit
Notification Forms for School Administrators and Pest Management Professionals
- When you begin your IPM program, you may wish to send a letter to parents explaining your pest management system. You may also wish to address certain pest issues, such as head lice, with parents at the beginning of the school year. Included here are sample notification letters to:
- introduce your program;
- notify parents of a pesticide application;
- ask parents to screen for head lice; and
- inform parents of a head lice infestation.
- Feel free to modify these letters to fit your specific program.
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- Sample Pest Management Policy Statement (PDF)(1 pg, 11.5 K) - The first step in an IPM program is to inform teachers, staff and students about the school's policy. The notice can be printed and posted on bulletin boards. Many states have notification as part of their school IPM legislation.
- Intent to Apply Pesticides Form (PDF) - Applying pesticides in a school environment results in a potential hazard. It is important for teachers and staff to be aware when a potentially dangerous situation exists. The "Intent to Apply Pesticides" form should be completed by the pest manager before treatment and submitted to an IPM Coordinator.
- Sample Pesticide Application Notification Signs - The notification signs provided at the bottom of this page are for posting when a pesticide with a warning or caution label is used. The signs are in both English and Spanish and have an area to list the re-entry date and time.
- Integrated Pest Management Parent Notification Letter (PDF)(2 pp, 75.6 K)
- Integrated Pest Management Pesticide Application Notification Letter (PDF)(1 pg, 29.7 K)
- School IPM Notification Overview - Howard County (Maryland) Public School System