82% of NYC schools with asbestos didn't get required inspections, comptroller says

Catalina Gonella

Published Apr 10, 2025

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Asbestos from a roof.

Tomas Ragina / Getty Images

Catalina Gonella

Published Apr 10, 2025

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The city’s Department of Education failed to inspect 82% of the city’s schools containing asbestos over a three-year period, Comptroller Brad Lander said in an audit published this week.

The report found that the education department is out of compliance with the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, mandating that schools with “asbestos-containing material” — any material or product containing more than 1% asbestos — be inspected on a schedule set by the law. Over time, asbestos can cause severe health issues such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

The audit also found that since 1997, the education department only conducted 11% of inspections mandated to take place every three years.

Lander's report noted the presence of asbestos alone doesn’t necessarily indicate a hazard, but that its condition — if it's frayed, meaning fibers can easily become airborne — matters as well. Asbestos inspectors examine all asbestos-containing material, assess its potential impact, and submit their findings for management plans, the report said.

But without such inspections, the report said, students and school staff could be at risk.

In a statement Wednesday, Lander, who is campaigning for mayor, urged the Adams Administration to take “swift action” to comply with federal regulations. He said the education department has “stunningly failed to follow the minimum national standard for asbestos management for years.”

According to the audit, from March 2021 to March 2024, only 257 of the 1,431 schools with asbestos-containing materials — or 18% — had their required three-year inspections. It also found that between May 2023 and April 2024, only 22% had all required periodic six-month inspections. The report found that Brooklyn had both the highest numbers of schools with asbestos and the lowest rate of compliance.

Lander’s office issued a set of nine recommendations for the education department and the School Construction Authority to follow — all of which the agencies agreed to, according to the report. They include raising awareness and understanding of asbestos regulation compliance among school officials; developing policies and procedures for asbestos policies in schools; and implementing a record-keeping system to ensure accountability.

In an email to Gothamist, the education department said it operates under the assumption that all building materials could contain asbestos, and takes the necessary precautions such as annually training all custodian engineers. The department also requires testing before performing any construction work that creates a risk of exposure, such as drilling, according to the department. If asbestos is found, the School Construction Authority is involved before moving forward, it said.

School spokesperson Nicole Brownstein said the education department plans to continue those protocols.

“The New York City Public Schools works every day to keep students safe, protected, and healthy in our schools, and we look forward to continuing these comprehensive efforts to keep schools free of asbestos,” Brownstein said.

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