Chicago Public Schools First to Earn Gold Certification

Healthy Schools Campaign announced that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has achieved Gold Certification under the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges (HGSC) Standard, becoming the first school district in the nation to be awarded this prestigious recognition.

This milestone marks a powerful step forward in the national movement to create healthier, more sustainable learning environments through best-in-class facilities management practices.

Healthy Green Schools & Colleges is a first-of-its-kind national framework that provides a practical framework to help districts work towards and celebrate a set of goals related to improving indoor air quality, protecting the health of students and staff, and reducing their overall environmental footprint. 

HGSC certification not only provides national recognition but also offers a practical roadmap for the process of pursuing more sustainable operations. School districts and higher education institutions choose to participate in this program and work towards certification in order to make their schools healthier for students, staff and the environment. HGSC certification is a symbol of this commitment, achievement, and leadership.

Chicago Public Schools’ Journey to Certification

Chicago Public Schools’ Gold Certification, achieved by earning an impressive 90 of 100 possible points, is the result of dedicated effort to elevate facility management practices and align operations with the HGSC Standard in the 500+ schools across the district. 

Before adopting the HGSC standard, CPS had initiated efforts to centralize and standardize its procurement processes. Previously, supply procurement was managed by a third-party Integrated Facility Management (IFM) vendor, which limited the district’s transparency and control over the quality and standards of purchased supplies and chemicals. While CPS was developing internal best practices, the absence of a recognized third-party standard hindered the program’s credibility and trust among building occupants.

Greener Paper, Smarter Purchasing

One of the standout achievements in CPS’s journey was its work in the Procurement – Consumables Goods category, and in particular its toilet tissue purchasing. Through an analysis of its consumable goods expenditures, CPS identified that a substantial portion of its budget—over $20,000 per week—was allocated to bath tissue. While the bath tissue in use complied with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines, it did not carry the Green Seal or UL Ecologo certification required for HGSC compliance.

To address this gap, CPS collaborated closely with its supply chain partners to identify cost-effective, compliant alternatives. Central to this effort was CPS’s partnership with Cintas, a key vendor in its weekly supply program. By actively engaging Cintas in the HGSC certification process, CPS successfully transitioned to a Green Seal-certified bath tissue that not only met HGSC standards but was also more cost-effective than the previously used product. This strategic shift not only enhanced compliance but also yielded significant cost savings for the district.

Integrating Technology Solutions

In addition to sustainable procurement, CPS’s success was also enabled by its integration of cutting-edge technology to manage operations across more than 500 school buildings. The district has invested in a suite of tools to support performance, quality assurance, and real-time communication:
- Corrigo CMMS: for work orders, ongoing maintenance, and asset tracking
- Oracle EAM: for tracking facility data like room size, square footage, and flooring
- CrowdComfort Cleaning Software: for cleaning validation, mobile communication, and performance metrics

CPS also provided Android smartphones to all custodial staff to improve workflow and ensure process documentation through the CrowdComfort app installed on each device. This allows personnel to:
- Track and document daily and extra cleaning routines
- Submit work orders and report broken or missing supplies
- Upload photos for quality assurance and cleaning validation
- Integrate with Corrigo for maintenance coordination

This tech-enabled approach allows CPS to monitor cleaning performance in real time, deploy resources more strategically, and reward personnel for consistent and improving results, all while aligning with the HGSC’s requirements.

A Model for the Nation

The story of CPS proves what’s possible when a district commits to raising the bar for health, sustainability, and operational excellence. By aligning with the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Standard, CPS has:
- Improved indoor air quality and environmental responsibility
- Strengthened stakeholder trust and transparency
- Demonstrated that sustainability and cost savings can go hand in hand

We congratulate Chicago Public Schools on this incredible achievement, and look forward to more school districts and higher education institutions following their lead.