Program Overview

• The REACH program builds upon the Clean Air and Healthy Homes Program (CAHHP), supported by Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) funding since 2005.
• The REACH program works with middle and high school students in rural, underserved, and Native American/Alaska Native areas of Montana, Alaska, and Idaho.
• Using an open inquiry format, while addressing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), REACH was developed in consultation with a core group of teachers and environmental health professionals.
• REACH will engage students in rural and underserved areas to become immersed in science methods through rigorous research projects focused on PM_2.5 (fine airborne particles 2.5 microns in diameter and smaller), cardiovascular health, and population health.
• Teachers will integrate new curriculum and novel, wearable PM_2.5 monitors into their science classes, enabling students to design their own research projects, collect data, analyze results, and present their findings in public settings.
• Students will engage in activities related to citizen science, science communication, and mentoring, while teachers will be actively engaged through a variety of professional development opportunities.

Montana, Idaho, and Alaska REACH Schools