Lead in school drinking water is a pervasive problem that impacts every state in the nation, yet many schools are ill-equipped to address it. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, even at very low levels, lead exposure in children, especially those younger than six, contributes to learning deficits and behavioral and attentional problems, lower IQ, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia.
Join us on Wednesday, November 3, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET, for the webinar release of a new NASBE report that details the current landscape of state lead testing programs, both mandatory and voluntary, and common challenges, best practices in policy, and actionable recommendations for state leaders to address lead in drinking water at schools.
During the webinar, panelists will discuss findings of the report and results from interviews with state experts on the challenges their states face, as well as strategies for state leaders to engage in clean drinking water efforts, advocate for policy action, and leverage federal funding opportunities to better support schools in lead testing and remediation so that all children have access to safe drinking water in school.
Speakers on this webinar include:
- Caroline Pakenham, Senior Manager of Water Programs, Elevate
- Pamela Pugh, Vice President of the Michigan State Board of Education, Public Health Expert, and Co-Founder of Regeneration LLC
- Jay Palmer, Senior Analyst, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)