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Pennsylvania does not currently require radon testing in schools or daycares. House Bill 289 would require testing and mitigation in schools, and it was reported out of a House committee in March 2026, but it is not law. Until a law passes, testing is voluntary. Schools and child care centers can still test under recognized national protocols, and high results can be addressed with radon mitigation for schools and large buildings.
As of this writing, HB 289 was laid on the table in the House after leaving committee. Two Senate bills, SB 760 and SB 497, are still in committee. No Pennsylvania rule requires child care centers to test for radon. Check the Pennsylvania General Assembly for the latest status.
Why radon in schools matters
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas made as uranium breaks down in soil and rock. EPA estimates it causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the U.S. There are no immediate symptoms, so the only way to know a building's level is to test.
Schools and daycares deserve attention because children and staff spend many hours a day inside, often on the lowest floors. EPA's radon in schools page reports that a national survey found nearly one in five schools had at least one schoolroom with a short-term radon level above 4 pCi/L, the EPA action level.
Current Pennsylvania law
Schools
There is no statewide requirement for Pennsylvania public or private schools to test for radon. Some districts test on their own. Others do not. Advocacy groups have described the current situation as a patchwork.
Daycares and child care centers
Pennsylvania's child care facility regulations, 55 Pa. Code Chapters 3270, 3280 and 3290, do not include a radon testing requirement. Some child care centers test voluntarily, and some programs help early learning centers test.
Who can test
Pennsylvania's Radon Certification Act and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 240 require anyone who tests or mitigates radon for others to be certified by PA DEP. That applies to schools and daycares that hire a tester. You can confirm certification through the PA DEP Radon Division.
Pending legislation: House Bill 289
House Bill 289, introduced in January 2025, would set statewide radon rules for school buildings. As introduced, the bill would:
- Require radon testing in school buildings within one year of the law taking effect
- Require retesting every five years, or every two years where levels are 4 pCi/L or higher
- Require testing and mitigation by certified professionals
- Require results to be shared with parents and staff and posted online
- Set up state reimbursement for part of testing and mitigation costs
- Require radon-resistant construction for new school buildings
The House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee amended and approved the bill on March 23, 2026. The same day, it was laid on the table in the House. It still needs to pass the House and the Senate and be signed before it becomes law. A Senate companion, SB 760, has also been introduced, along with a broader Senate radon bill, SB 497.
Bill details can change through amendments. Always check the current text and status at the Pennsylvania General Assembly website before relying on any of these provisions.
How schools and daycares can test now
You do not need to wait for a law to test. The national consensus protocol for schools and other large buildings is ANSI/AARST MA-MFLB-2023. Our guide to how commercial and multifamily radon testing works covers it in detail. In short:
- Test every occupied ground-contact room. That means every classroom, office, gym, cafeteria or nap room with floors or walls touching the ground.
- Test upper floors too. At least one room and at least 10 percent of occupied rooms on each upper floor.
- Run the HVAC normally. Heating and cooling should run as they do when the building is in use.
- Keep the building closed. Windows and exterior doors stay closed except for normal entry and exit, starting before the test.
- Test for at least 48 hours. Short-term tests are common for initial screening.
- Follow up on high results. Rooms at or above 4.0 pCi/L need follow-up testing and, if confirmed, mitigation.
Weekends and holidays can affect results if the HVAC runs differently when the building is empty. A certified tester will plan around your schedule.
What happens if a school tests high
Large buildings are usually fixed with sub-slab depressurization, sometimes combined with HVAC adjustments. Because school slabs are often split by footings and additions, a diagnostic visit maps how suction spreads before a system is designed. The national standard for these systems is ANSI/AARST SGM-MFLB-2023.
After installation, the treated rooms are retested to confirm results below the action level.
Schools and daycares in York County
York County is in EPA Radon Zone 1, the highest radon potential category. Many local school buildings and church-based daycares are older structures with additions built in different decades, each with its own foundation. That makes room-by-room testing important. A low result in one wing does not mean the whole building is low.
Key takeaways
- Pennsylvania does not currently require radon testing in schools or daycares.
- House Bill 289 was reported out of a House committee in March 2026, but it is not law.
- Anyone hired to test or mitigate must be PA DEP certified.
- Schools can test now using ANSI/AARST MA-MFLB-2023.
- Test every ground-contact room, plus a share of upper floors, with HVAC running normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a parent ask a school to test for radon?
Yes. Parents can ask the school board or administration to test and share results. Many districts respond to community requests.
Is a home test kit good enough for a classroom?
Kits measure radon, but a school needs a plan covering many rooms, quality control and HVAC conditions. A certified tester handles that.
Do private schools fall under HB 289?
Coverage depends on the final bill text. Check the current version before assuming it applies.
Get your school or daycare tested
We test and mitigate schools, daycares and other large buildings across York. Call (717) 356-3035 any time for a same-day callback.