NJ Air Quality Flag Program

Elms Elementary participates in the New Jersey Air Quality Flag Program to help students, staff, and families understand how outdoor air quality impacts health and daily activities. Each day, the color of the flag reflects the Air Quality Index (AQI), a tool developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to indicate how clean or polluted the air is.

Students play an active role in this program. Each morning, students in Mrs. Brenner’s second-grade class check the daily air quality forecast and update the flag, helping the school community stay informed. When air quality does not meet recommended standards, the school adjusts outdoor activities to protect student health.

The chart below explains what each flag color means and how it helps guide safe decisions for recess, physical education, and outdoor learning. Families are encouraged to use this information at home as well to support healthy choices on poor air quality days.