Recent studies of children in school have begun to show what parents have long suspected. Even low levels of lead in the blood can hurt a child’s academic and social performance in school.

Syracuse City School Parents: Check out the “Steps” at the bottom of the page. We have guidance on how to obtain an evaluation for your child if lead poisoning is affecting your child’s performance in school.

More information on these studies can be found in the CDC report, “Education Interventions for Children Affected by Lead” (see below).

See also: https://www.mwph.org/health-services/lead-treatment/poisoning-effects

CDC report: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/Educational_Interventions_Children_Affected_by_Lead.pdf

Study: North Carolina, 2009

Size of study: More than 57,000 children

Educational impact: Decreased end-of-grade test scores

Blood-lead levels examined: Less than/equal to 3 mcg/dL (micro-grams per deciliter of blood)

Study citation: Miranda ML, Kim D, Reiter J, Overstreet Galeano MA, Maxson P. 2009. Environmental contributors to the achievement gap. Neurotoxicology 30(6):1019–24.

studies: connecticut 2011; north carolina 2009

Size of Connecticut study: 35,000 children

Educational impact: Poorer performance on tests

Blood-lead levels examined: 4 mcg/dL when the child was 3 years old

Study citation: Miranda ML, Dohyeong K, Osgood C, Hastings C. 2011. The impact of early childhood lead exposure on educational test performance among connecticut schoolchildren, phase 1 report. Durham, NC: Children's Environmental Health Initiative, Duke University.

Size of North Carolina study: More than 57,000 children

Educational impact: Increased likelihood of a learning disabled classification in elementary school

Study citation: Miranda ML, Kim D, Reiter J, Overstreet Galeano MA, Maxson P. 2009. Environmental contributors to the achievement gap. Neurotoxicology 30(6):1019–24.

Six Basic Steps to Evaluation in SCSD

Requesting an Evaluation When You Suspect Your

Child Has Lead Poisoning, Which Is Affecting

His or Her Ability to Benefit from School

Step One … 1

If you suspect your child has a disability (including lead poisoning which is affecting the child's physical or mental health), you may request that the school district conduct an evaluation of your child.

Step Two … 2

The request for an evaluation should be made in writing and given to the principal of the school your child attends, or to the Chair Person of the Committee on Special Education. (The name of the CSE Chair should be on the District's website.) 

  Remember to keep a copy of the letter requesting an evaluation, and write down who you gave it to and when.

Step Three … 3

  The District will then ask you as the parent to sign a "consent for evaluation." You should sign this and give it back to the District as soon as possible. 

  The time deadlines for the District to complete the evaluation start to run when it receives the signed consent and not the letter.

Step Four … 4

  The evaluation must be conducted within 60 days of when the District receives the consent to evaluate.

  It should include a physical exam, a psychological exam, a social history and other appropriate assessments.

Step Five … 5

  After the evaluation is conducted, the Committee on Special Education should meet to determine if the child is eligible for special education services.

  The parent is a required member of this Committee, and should receive a notice in their native language at least five days before the meeting.

  The parent should make every effort to attend, and is entitled to have an interpreter provided.

Step Six … 6

If the parent disagrees with the Committee's decision, they may want to consult an advocate.