Better School Restrooms

The American Restroom Association and Project CLEAN are partnering on tools for advocacy and information specific to improving the restroom experience in Grades 6 to 12. Learn here about how to advocate for change using the school wellness policy and about COVID-19 preparations. Click here for more from ARA on COVID-19 and Public Restrooms.

Keeping Restrooms Clean After Covid

School wellness policies should include guidance about safe and clean restrooms.

“How many school districts have a board of education policy about restrooms? Of the 13,500 school districts in the 2018-19 school year, I’d wager a symbolic dollar that only a small number have such a document. Local education agencies typically have not addressed school restroom issues…” read ARA Board member and Project CLEAN founder Dr. Tom Keating’s full article at asumag.com. (American School & University Magazine, April 2, 2021)

Ten Things to Get Your School Ready

For the last twenty-five years in Georgia and 20 other states, as well as in Germany and several other countries, Project CLEAN has worked with caring educators, students, custodians, administrators, and parents so that all school restrooms – especially in middle and high schools – would be clean, sanitary, and well-stocked.

As children return to their schools, what do we want these restrooms to be like a month or several months after school begins again?

Click the downloadable document link for ten things your school can do right now. Ten-Things-for-Schools-re-COVID-19-ARA-Project-CLEAN-July-2020

Leveraging Your School Wellness Policy for Positive Restroom Changes

A Federal law, originated in 2004, and then supplanted by a later version in 2010, requires every school district (that feeds children lunch) must establish a local school wellness policy. Regulations were published in 2016 and local educational agencies (that is, school districts), were required to have revised policies in place by June 30, 2017.

The policies must include goals for nutrition, physical activity, and “other school-based activities.” The general public is permitted to be involved with policy improvements and communication. An official must ensure compliance at each school.

The local school wellness policy and implementation by schools and districts affect how kids, and possibly staff, eat, exercise, and do “other school-based activities.” This last goal can include better restrooms when you get buy-in from policy makers, educators, and students.

Click the downloadable document link for a basic example of how to find where your school wellness language is incorporated in district policies. Policies which you can then leverage for improvements in school restrooms and rules related to restroom usage.  Leveraging Wellness for Restroom Changes – ARA-Project CLEAN – July 2020

For more information, visit Project CLEAN: projectclean.us

Project CLEAN
P.O. Box 125
Decatur, GA 30031
404-694-2905
keating.projectclean@gmail.com