And when the flu's in, school's out. It's no surprise that schools are hotspots for germs—with kids in close contact and constantly sharing supplies and surfaces, viruses spread fast. The flu alone causes an estimated 38 million missed school days each year, and some districts are forced to close temporarily when absenteeism spikes.

Just to give you an example, in January 2025, the Godley Independent School District in Texas closed for several days after nearly 650 students (or more than one-fifth of all students!) and 60 staff members were absent due to the flu and other illnesses.

When the flu hits hard, budgets and learning suffer

On average, public school teachers miss around 8 days per year due to illness. (publicecharters.org)

Sick days drain resources and disrupt learning. When 8% of the nation's 3.2 million public school teachers are absent, districts lose an estimated $25.6 million per day—adding up to $4.4 billion annually, according to estimates from Bloomberg. This figure includes not only substitute pay, but also the administrative burden of covering classes and the learning loss students face when instruction is inconsistent.

Research shows that substitute teaching can significantly hinder student performance. A Duke University study found that just 10 days of teacher absence led to a 3.3% drop in students' math scores—an impact greater than changing schools.

Columbia University research goes even further, suggesting that even a single day with a substitute can do more harm to student achievement than replacing an average teacher with one in the bottom 10th percentile for math instruction. These findings highlight how critical consistent, high-quality teaching is to student success.

Gives you a reason to fight back, doesn't it?

Fight the flu at full strength: Clean, protect, prevent

You can't beat the beast, but you can definitely reduce its harm—and cleaning is a powerful way to tackle it.

Follow CDC's recommendations on how to clean and disinfect schools to help slow the spread of the flu:

1. Know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing
2. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often
3. Perform routine cleaning and disinfecting
4. Clean and disinfect correctly
5. Use products safely
6. Handle waste properly

Flu season hits hard. Make “clean, protect, prevent” your mantra—download our guide.