2026-2027 School Air Quality Fellowship Applications Open

The School Air Quality Fellowship program, organized by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, is open for applications until July 10. The fellowship provides staff of U.S.-based K-12 school districts with the tools and support needed to create a plan for cleaner, healthier indoor air, while also keeping energy use and costs in mind.

Fellows will work with its district colleagues and leverage the advice of national experts, to develop new or updated written district guidelines, policies, and/or procedures to enhance indoor air quality (IAQ).

The fellowship offers professional development and travel valued at over US$5,000 and attendance at the Green Schools Conference and Schools Facilities Leadership Summit in Austin, Texas, Feb. 8-11, 2027.

Participants can receive up to $30,000 in additional funding to improve IAQ through a collaboration with the American Lung Association Clean Air School Challenge program.

Additionally, the fellowship offers career-advancing benefits at no cost. Fellows receive monthly personalized training and technical assistance on IAQ management along with free access to professional credentials, including Building Operator Certification, Registered Environmental Health Specialist, and leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) Green Associate.

Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, but indoor air can be two to five times, and occasionally more than 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. The benefits of clean indoor air in schools include improved health for students and staff, improved cognitive function, lower absenteeism, and increased lifespan of HVAC equipment.

Fifty fellows will be chosen to represent every region in the U.S. by July 31. For more information or to fill out an application, click here.