A large share of American school buildings were constructed during the peak asbestos era — roughly the 1940s through the 1970s — when asbestos was standard in insulation, floor and ceiling tile, and structural fireproofing. Decades later, asbestos remains in place in thousands of schools, and disturbing it during maintenance, renovation, or simple deterioration can expose teachers, staff, and students.
Why Schools Are a Special Concern
Schools were built with the same asbestos materials as any other building of the era — but they present unique concerns:
- They are occupied by children, who are more vulnerable and have longer lifetimes for latent disease to develop.
- Aging school buildings are often under-funded for proper abatement, so damaged asbestos may go unaddressed.
- Renovations and repairs in occupied buildings can disturb asbestos.
This concern is exactly why Congress passed a dedicated law — AHERA — to govern asbestos in schools.
Where Asbestos Was Used in Schools
- Thermal pipe and boiler insulation in mechanical rooms, tunnels, and above ceilings
- Floor tile and the mastic beneath it (especially 9" × 9" tile)
- Ceiling tile and spray-applied acoustic/“popcorn” ceilings
- Spray-applied structural fireproofing on steel beams
- Cement board, transite panels, and lab counters/fume hoods
- Wall and pipe insulation, gaskets, and joint compound
See the full where asbestos was used in schools guide.
Who Is at Risk
- Teachers — long careers spent in aging buildings; a recognized occupational exposure group.
- Custodians and maintenance staff — the highest-exposure school workers, who directly handle and disturb asbestos materials.
- Students and families — see Is there asbestos in my child’s school?
AHERA: The Law on Asbestos in Schools
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1986 requires public and private K-12 schools to inspect for asbestos, maintain an asbestos management plan, and make that plan available to parents and staff on request. Understanding your rights under AHERA is covered in the parent guide.
If you were a teacher, custodian, or school employee diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease and were exposed to asbestos in a school building, you may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds and civil litigation.
This information is educational and does not constitute legal or medical advice.