Listen To Story Above

A shocking new audit has revealed that the New York City Department of Education failed to properly inspect the vast majority of schools for asbestos, with over 82% of the city’s 1,700 educational facilities not meeting federal inspection requirements during the mandated three-year period.

The investigation, conducted by the NYC Comptroller’s Office from March 2021 to March 2024, uncovered major oversight deficiencies that potentially exposed students, educators, and staff to hazardous conditions in buildings known to contain the carcinogenic material.

“Our first job in government is to keep New Yorkers secure,” Comptroller Brad Lander said. “When it comes to our kids, the City must adhere to the rules designed to protect them from known hazards — this is not optional. Yet DOE has stunningly failed to follow the minimum national standard for asbestos management for years.”

The report highlighted serious deficiencies in the department’s record-keeping practices and overall inspection procedures. Under the 1986 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), schools containing asbestos must undergo comprehensive inspections every three years, followed by regular monitoring.

Despite the requirement to complete 480 inspections annually, the DOE only managed between 200 and 250 inspections during the most recent three-year cycle. Furthermore, follow-up monitoring was only completed in 22% of the inspected schools.

This pattern of inadequate oversight extends back to 1997, with data showing that on average, only 11% of schools received proper inspections during each monitoring period.

“As a former public school parent, parents put their trust in the City when they send their kids to school each morning,” Lander said. “That is why today I am urging the Adams Administration to take swift action to come into compliance because no parent, teacher, or school staffer should feel unsafe walking into a school.”

The Centers for Disease Control has identified asbestos exposure as a serious health risk that can lead to lung cancer and other severe medical conditions.

The situation is particularly concerning in Brooklyn, which houses the largest number of DOE schools. Only 13% of required periodic asbestos inspections were completed in the borough, while Queens schools fared slightly better at 16%.

In response to the audit, which is scheduled for public release on Wednesday, the DOE acknowledged its shortcomings and committed to seeking additional contractors to help address the inspection backlog. The department has also agreed to implement eight audit recommendations, including enhanced inspection protocols, increased custodial training, and improved documentation procedures.