The online course, Providing IPM Services in Schools and Child Care Settings, was updated to meet the training requirement of the Healthy Schools Act that went into effect July 1, 2016. It requires teachers, custodians, administrators, other staff or volunteers, and licensed pest management professionals applying any pesticide (including disinfectants and antimicrobials) at a school site to take a California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) approved training course covering school integrated pest management (IPM) annually.

Prior to July 1, schools were already required to do the following:

• Designate an IPM coordinator at the school or district level to make sure the requirements of the HSA are met
• Create an IPM plan
• Provide annual written notification to all parents and staff of pesticide products intended for use at the school site during the year and allow the opportunity for them to be notified before certain applications
• Post warning signs where certain pesticides are applied
• Keep records of pesticide applications
• Send pesticide use reports to DPR annually

Some pesticide products are exempt from the IPM plan, notification, posting, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements of the HSA at school sites. These are reduced-risk pesticide products, and their use is encouraged at schools if pesticides are deemed necessary. These include:

• Self-contained baits or traps
• Gels or pastes used indoors in cracks and crevices
• Antimicrobials, including sanitizers and disinfectants
• Pesticides exempt from registration, such as food grade oils

However, these products are NOT exempt from the Healthy Schools Act annual training requirement that went into effect July 1. Anyone who uses these products—a licensed professional, school staff or child care staff—is still required to take the HSA annual training course.

Continuing education units are available (1.0 hour Other and 1.0 hour Pesticide Laws & Regulations from DPR; 1.0 hour Rules and Regulations and 1.0 hour IPM from the California Structural Pest Control Board). Providing IPM Services in Schools and Child Care Settings provides information on the HSA, using IPM services to manage pests in schools and child care centers, and practical ways to use IPM in business while complying with the HSA.