Air Quality Information for Parents & Guardians

Based on the air quality index and regulations from OSAA, Corvallis School District will cancel all outside and indoor activities involving any strenuous activities. Students and families will be notified directly if practices are canceled.

Children with conditions such as asthma, respiratory infection, or lung/heart disease are at greater risk. If your child has sensitivity to air pollution and there are registration activities taking place, please contact your child’s school to make other arrangements.

The Oregon Health Authority has created a fact sheet with guidelines for schools available HERE.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is the EPA’s scale for rating air quality. It is a color coded tool that categorizes air quality. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) maintains air quality ratings that are updated hourly and can be accessed online at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi. In addition, the AirNow website offers daily AQI forecasts as well as real-time AQI conditions.

The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) recommends all contests or practices be moved inside when air quality is in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” or worse range. OSAA recommends that schools check air quality before activities and suggests that schools can also use the 5-3-1 Visibility Index to make decisions. If objects 5 miles away cannot be seen, air quality is “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”

Oregon Health Authority guidelines permit light outdoor activity when air quality is “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” but OSAA does not consider sports as light activity. OSAA has prepared a chart of various methods of checking air quality and the required actions.