Pesticide Management
In September 2000, Governor David signed into law the Healthy Schools Act of 2000 (Assembly Bill 2260). This law requires schools to notify parents, guardians and school employees about pesticides used in their schools, and requires the Department of Pesticide Regulation to promote the voluntary adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in California schools. Most provisions of the law took effect January 1, 2001. Each school district is to implement the following requirements of the law:
- Notification of all pesticide products the school district expects to use on school grounds must be sent annually to parents or guardians of students. These products include over-the-counter pesticides available at retail outlets, but do not include certain products exempted under the law. The notifications must list the active ingredients in each pesticide product and the Internet address for the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to access additional information. Visit DPR's website at http://www.cdpr.ca.gov and click on School IPM Program.
- Each school will establish a list of parents or guardians who want to be notified before individual pesticide applications are made.
- Each school district will ensure that warning notices are posted in areas where pesticides will be applied. These signs will be posted twenty-four (24) hours in advance and seventy-two (72) hours after application of pesticides, and will contain information as specified in the law.
- Each school will maintain records of all pesticides used at the school for four years and the records will be available to the public upon request.
For more information regarding the District's Pesticide Management Plan, please refer to the Pesticide Management Handbook below.
A copy of the Pesticide Application Letter to Parents is also available for your reference below.
