A federally funded research program bringing continuous air monitoring and automatic building response to middle schools.
The goal: cleaner air, fewer sick days, healthier kids.
Districts take part for three years. We are studying whether healthier classroom air can reduce respiratory illness and absenteeism. We run the program on the ground, and nothing comes out of your budget.
Applying takes about ten minutes and commits you to nothing. Nomine una escuela en español
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Applications openNow
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Live information sessionThursday 19 November, 1pm ET · register
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Priority deadlineFriday 4 December 2026, 11:59pm PT
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District conversationsAs applications arrive
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On-site technical visitsJanuary 2027, selected districts
Applications continue after the priority deadline as space allows, but earlier applications are considered in the first round of visits.
Districts take part for three years. Here is what that is worth.
We run it on the ground
This is not another project landing on your team. We handle the installation, the servicing, the family communications and the day-to-day of the study, working around your schedule rather than adding to it.
Nothing comes out of your budget
Equipment, installation and the program support that runs alongside it are all covered. There is no cost to the district to take part, and no cost to apply.
You keep the data and the system
Classroom air data throughout the three years, and a significant air monitoring and air cleaning system that stays with the district afterwards.
Classroom air, monitored continuously. A building that responds on its own.
The system works with your schools' existing heating and cooling, and runs in the background. Your staff do not have to operate it, and we look after it for the three years.
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1 · Sense
It monitors the air
Sensors sample classroom air continuously, mainly from the return air in your heating and cooling system.
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2 · Assess
It makes sense of what it finds
Software turns the readings into a room-by-room picture, taking account of each building's layout and conditions.
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3 · Respond
The building adjusts automatically
Ventilation, filtration and air cleaning adjust when they are needed, without anyone having to step in.
This is what the research is testing: whether classrooms that monitor and respond to their own air can reduce respiratory illness and absenteeism.
What we ask of you, and what is entirely optional.
The district commits to
- Three years of participation
- At least two middle schools
- Facilities coordination and access for installation and servicing
- Aggregate, anonymised attendance information by day and grade level
We never ask for student-level or classroom-level attendance records.
For eligible districts, study-related increases in energy use may also be supplemented. We will confirm this with you during the conversation.
Families choose for themselves
- Short illness and absence questionnaires, completed by parents who want to
- Voluntary lab samples
Neither is required of any family, and neither affects a school's participation.
Every participating school receives the intervention during the study.
Schools are split into two groups, and the groups switch. That is what lets us compare, and it is why no school sits out the whole way.
Afterwards, a significant air monitoring and air cleaning system remains with the district. Because of the way the groups work, that is not a complete system in every single school, and we will be specific about the allocation with you before anyone signs anything.
Four things that matter, and a lot that does not.
You do not need to work any of this out before applying. Answer what you know, choose "Not sure" for the rest, and our technical team will confirm the details with your facilities staff.
Start an application-
A public school district in the contiguous United StatesIndependent and private schools may also express interest.
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At least two schools serving middle-school gradesLarger groups of middle schools are welcome and easier for us to support.
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Central heating and cooling with return air ducting that serves classroomsThink large air handling units, or boxed units in a mechanical room. We primarily sample return air from classrooms, though a central area that can be sampled works too. There also needs to be an indoor mechanical or fan room where equipment can sit. Not sure what you have? Say so on the form.
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No major construction planned in the study windowIf something is planned, tell us. It is a conversation, not an automatic no.
- What does not matter: the age of your buildings, whether you already have air sensors, or whether you have a building automation system.
We respond quickly. We decide carefully.
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A conversation
Someone gets in touch to answer questions and understand your schools.
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Cohort review
We compare districts together rather than first come, first served, and decide which ones to visit.
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An on-site visit
For selected districts, we walk the buildings with your facilities team, a couple of hours per school, to see what will work.
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Airflow measurement, then selection
Strong candidates go on to airflow measurement, scheduled when students are not in the building. Then we select a cohort from across the country.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Selected applicants will be contacted for additional information and may be invited to take part in an on-site technical assessment. Technical suitability is one of several factors considered in final selection.
Come to a live session before you apply.
Twenty minutes with the people running the program: what Breathe Schools is, how we get started with a district, how selection works, and your questions answered on the spot.
Can't make it? Register anyway and we will send the recording and the slides.
Led by Poppy Health, with partners across research, engineering and buildings.
Breathe Schools is run by more than 160 scientists, engineers, and education and building experts, from organizations including:
Poppy Health Program lead
- Anka Labs
- Attune
- CU Anschutz
- Daikin
- Draper
- Handix
- Harvard Wyss Institute
- Max Welfare Inc.
- Mosaic Design Labs
- Penn State
- Primary.Health
- UCSF
- University of Colorado
- University of Minnesota
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
- University of Nottingham
- University of Texas Medical Branch
Before you spend ten minutes on the form.
Does applying commit us to anything?
No. Applying starts a conversation. Nothing is committed until a district signs an enrollment agreement, which comes much later and only after a site visit.
Do we need board approval to apply?
Not to apply. You will need the right approvals to enroll, and part of the early conversation is working out what those are at your district and on what calendar.
How much work is this for our team?
Less than you would expect, because we run it. We need building access for installation and servicing, arranged around your schedule, and a route to aggregate attendance information. A dedicated program contact handles everything else, including communications with parents and teachers.
Is every applicant guaranteed a site visit?
No. Site visits and testing take real time and money, so they go to districts selected at a comparative review. We will tell you either way rather than leaving you waiting.
Ten minutes now, or a reminder in your calendar for 3 December?
The priority deadline is Friday 4 December 2026, 11:59pm PT. Districts that apply earlier are in the first round of conversations.