Of the 50 U.S. states, only 14 have written into law that K-12 schools must test their drinking water for lead. The other 36 leave it to district discretion.
Since the federal Lead and Copper Rule does not cover schools as separate regulated entities, the responsibility falls to states. Most states have published guidance encouraging voluntary testing. A smaller group has written it into statute or regulation. This is that smaller group.
AB 746 (2017) requires every K-12 school in California to test drinking water for lead. Schools with results above 5 ppb must take corrective action. Results are publicly available.
Read the California profilePA 99-0922 (2017) requires all IL schools serving pre-K through 5 to test for lead. Results publicly available via the IL State Board of Education.
Read the Illinois profileMaine LD 153 (2021) requires every K-12 school and licensed childcare to test for lead. Results posted publicly on Maine CDC site.
Read the Maine profileMaryland HB 270 (2017) requires lead testing in all public schools. Results published on the MD State Department of Education site.
Read the Maryland profileMA Department of Environmental Protection runs Assistance Program for Lead in School Drinking Water since 2016 — voluntary participation but with mandatory reporting once tested. Most public schools have tested.
Read the Massachusetts profileMichigan Filter First in Schools program (2023) requires hydration stations + filters in K-12 schools. Building on lessons from Flint.
Read the Michigan profileMN Statute 121A.335 (2017) requires lead testing in all public school buildings. Minneapolis and St. Paul have completed multiple testing cycles with public results.
Read the Minnesota profileNH RSA 485:17-b (2018) requires testing in all schools and licensed childcare. Results submitted to NH DES.
Read the New Hampshire profileNJ N.J.A.C. 6A:26 requires triennial lead testing in all schools serving pre-K through 12. Results published.
Read the New Jersey profileNY Public Health Law 1110 (2016) requires lead testing in all schools. Action level: 15 ppb. Public results.
Read the New York profileOR Healthy and Safe Schools Plan (2017) requires lead testing in all public schools every six years. Results published.
Read the Oregon profileRI Department of Health (2019 rules) requires lead testing in all public schools. Results published.
Read the Rhode Island profileAct 66 (2019) requires lead testing in all schools and licensed childcare every three years.
Read the Vermont profileWashington 2018 lead-in-schools rule requires testing in all schools and licensed childcare. Results published.
Read the Washington profileEach state's lead-in-schools policy was reviewed against state statutes, education department guidance, and health department mandates as published through April 2026. A state is listed as MANDATED only when statute or binding regulation requires testing — not when the testing is encouraged, recommended, or only required in certain districts. States listed as 'voluntary' or 'limited' in our state profiles are excluded.
If your state isn't on this list, it means K-12 lead testing in your school is at the district's discretion. Many districts test anyway — but you should not assume yours does. Ask your district directly, or pull the state department of education's most recent compliance report.