Schools and Child Care Centers

Pesticide law requires public schools and licensed daycare centers to post most pesticide applications and establish a system to notify interested parents and staff of planned pesticide use. These requirements do not apply to private schools or colleges.
 

Notify Parents and Staff of Pesticide Use

All public schools and daycare centers must provide parents or guardians and employees with written notification of the school's pest control policies and methods upon request. A system must also be in place that notifies parents, guardians, and employees at least 48 hours before a pesticide application. Notifications must include the location, date, time, pest to be controlled, and the name and phone number of a contact person. Public schools and licensed daycare centers must make pesticide application records, including an annual summary of records, readily available to anyone requesting them.

These notification requirements do not apply to antimicrobial pesticides, insect or rodent baits that are not accessible to children. Pre-notification is not required for emergency applications to control pests that pose an immediate threat to human health or safety such as the control of stinging insects or if the school application is made when the school is not occupied by students for at least two consecutive days after application (RCW 17.21.415).