Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Education

HEAL Program

Mission Statement

The Healthy Environments Advance Learning (HEAL) Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) grant and administered by the Rhode Island Department of Education’s School Building Authority, advances a student-centered approach to school infrastructure across Rhode Island. HEAL strengthens state and local capacity to address long-standing disparities in school facility conditions by integrating health, energy efficiency, and operational performance into planning and decision-making. Through coordinated technical guidance, data-informed strategies, and strategic partnerships, HEAL supports school districts in creating safe, healthy, and effective learning environments that improve student well-being and educational outcomes, particularly in high-need communities.

Vision Statement

HEAL envisions a future where every student in Rhode Island learns in a school environment that actively supports health, learning, and opportunity. By elevating school infrastructure as a critical component of educational success, HEAL seeks to establish a durable statewide model that aligns people, systems, and resources to deliver equitable, sustainable, and high-performing learning environments. Through this approach, the program aims to reduce health disparities, strengthen community resilience, and ensure that investments in school facilities consistently translate into meaningful improvements for students and educators, now and into the future.

Picture of students and adults entering a school building with the words "Healthy Environments Advance Learning"

A Student-Centered Approach to School Infrastructure in the Ocean State

HEAL is a proactive approach adding bandwidth to teams to aim support in high needs areas to improve student and staff wellbeing. HEAL seeks to address the underlying factors of deficient facility conditions contributing to chronic absenteeism and poor academic outcomes, ultimately leading to improved student health, better energy efficiency in school buildings, and more suitable learning environments.

If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it

Poor indoor air quality in schools harm health, learning, and well-being, increasing absenteeism and asthma while lowering performance. The HEAL program has partnered with ThinkLite to install IAQ sensors in our school districts, with data guiding improvements. Paired with Retro-commissioning and Tools for Schools, these efforts will deliver immediate IAQ gains.

Image of intertwined lines representing Indoor Air Quality, Preventative Maintenance, and Energy Efficiency

Partnering with OUR Utility Provider:

Retro-commissioning (RCx) optimizes existing HVAC systems to boost energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Utility funding covers RCx costs for high-need districts, with savings returning to school budgets. By improving ventilation, humidity, and temperature control, RCx supports student health, teacher retention, and stronger school performance through healthier learning environments.

Retro Commissioning info-graphic
School Indoor Air Enhancements: Hosted by the Healthy Schools Network featuring Rhode Island’s HEAL initiative alongside Connecticut’s IAQ efforts, highlighting regional leadership in improving indoor air quality.
Clean Air in Schools: Co-developed by the Efficient & Healthy Schools Program, Center for Green Schools, and EPA, this resource guides districts in adopting sustainable indoor air quality practices.
Boston Public Schools: Leaders in IAQ Monitoring: Showcases Boston’s comprehensive IAQ monitoring system and provides insights for replication in other districts.
From Roof to Curb: An EPA-led session offering preventative maintenance strategies to strengthen IAQ management across school facilities. 
Know the Drill for Healthy IAQ: An EPA training designed to help schools identify and reduce asthma triggers through improved air quality practices.
The Capital Improvement Plan: Presented by Dr. Joseph da Silva, this session demonstrates how to align capital planning and facility investments with educational priorities.
The Educational Facilities Master Plan: Led by Kathleen Moore, this presentation explores strategic K–12 infrastructure planning to support long-term academic and operational goals.
Improving IAQ in Schools Series: GO Green and NSBA host the American Lung Association to share national findings and strategies for advancing school IAQ improvements.
Indoor Air Quality Plus Energy Efficiency: A Formula for Saving Money While Protecting Your School's Indoor Environment: An EPA resource offering actionable tools to enhance energy efficiency while maintaining healthy indoor environments and reducing costs.
Time to clear the air in the room... and talk about Indoor Air Quality: Dr. Joseph G. Allen of Harvard discusses the science of IAQ in fostering healthy, high-performing schools. 
Creating Champions of Health Indoor Environments: Presented by Healthy Environments Advance Learning (HEAL) and the Asthma Control Program at the Rhode Island Department of Health, this professional development session empowers Rhode Island's school nurses and infrastructure leaders to become champions of healthy indoor school environments by learning how to conduct school infrastructure walkthroughs.