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Air Quality Flag Program for Schools and Communities

Solution Overview

The Metro Public Health Department and Metro Nashville Public Schools are participating in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Flag Program to help protect people's health from outdoor air pollution.[1] This approach, which started in January 2019, involves participating schools raising a flag each morning based on the color of the Air Quality Index (AQI) to show the expected amount of air pollution for that day.[1][2] Rose Park Magnet Math and Science Middle School is among five STEAM Metro Nashville Public Schools to begin raising a brightly colored flag to help their students, staff and members of the community be aware of daily air quality conditions.[1]

Technical Components

Nashville has four air quality sensors, all positioned in the east and northeast parts of Davidson County.[2] Managed by the Metro Health Department, they report air pollutant concentrations to the EPA hourly.[2] Each morning participating schools raise a flag based on the color of the Air Quality Index (AQI) to show the expected amount of air pollution for that day.[1]

Implementation Details

Rose Park Magnet Math and Science Middle School joins J.T. Moore Middle School, Madison Middle School, Stratford STEM Lower Campus, Whitsitt Elementary School and 16 other MNPS schools already participating in the program.[1] The Nashville Breathes project started in January 2019.[2] Strategic partners that helped make the Nashville Breathes plan a reality include MNPS STEAM Advisory Board, Metro Nashville Public Health Department, American Lung Association (Tennessee Chapter), TN Asthma Coalition, and Metro Nashville Public Schools.[2] Students at Rose Park Middle School presented the air quality flags and a student-made art installation to promote clean air on Thursday, February 6 at 1:30pm.[1] ENCORE students at Rose Park Middle took the lead by including their school community and Metro Council in the air quality awareness drive.[2]

Business Analysis

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other harmful air pollution.[3]

[1]: Source 1 [2]: Source 2 [3]: Source 3

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