School Facilities & Design

Explainer

What to Know About PCBs in Schools: A Visual Primer
Key facts about a toxic chemical that continues to contaminate older schools.
Person thinking to enter money maze puzzle.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding States Urge McMahon to Restore Federal Funds She Canceled Without Notice
New York's education department threatened legal action if the federal government doesn't restore pandemic relief funds.
Mark Lieberman, April 4, 2025
10 min read
Student Well-Being Video How Urban Schools Bring Lessons to Life Through Gardening
School gardens can connect classroom lessons with the wider world while offering lifelong learnings for students.
Sam Mallon, April 3, 2025
3:55
Photograph of middle school students and their female teacher planting in their school's garden.
E+
Student Well-Being Interactive Tips for Turning a School Garden Into a Rich Learning Opportunity
School gardens boost learning by blending academics with hands-on skills like SEL, finance, and community involvement.
Gina Tomko, April 3, 2025
1 min read
Female teacher around a group of diverse elementary school students holding different plants
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being Download How to Grow a School Garden on a Budget
Start a school garden with repurposed materials, community support, and creative learning—indoors or out—on any budget.
Gina Tomko, April 3, 2025
1 min read
Image of financial support being cut.
milo827/iStock/Getty
Education Funding How Schools Are Feeling Trump's Spending Cuts
Electric school buses and teacher-preparation programs are among the victims of funding cuts.
Mark Lieberman, February 18, 2025
7 min read
Thermometer under a hot sun. Hot summer day. High Summer temperatures.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion School Modernization Funds Are in Jeopardy. Here's What to Do
Upgrades to ground-source heat pumps keep students learning in hot weather and rack up energy savings, write two former school leaders.
Brenda Cassellius & Jonathan Klein, January 30, 2025
5 min read
A close up photograph of an electric school bus charging at a charging station.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding Will Trump Cut Climate Funds for Schools? Here's What Could Happen
Tax credits for energy-efficient HVAC systems and electric school buses could go away once Republicans take control of Congress.
Mark Lieberman, December 17, 2024
8 min read
Close up of FEMA paperwork
iStock/Getty
School & District Management 3 Tips for Districts to Maximize FEMA Funding After a Natural Disaster
District leaders who have been through natural disasters stress the need for thorough documentation, even if it seems excessive.
Caitlynn Peetz, December 16, 2024
5 min read
112524 lamberton AP BS 5
Buses line up outside the newly opened Red Rock Central Secondary School in Lamberton, Minn. Community leaders view the $41 million as a boost both for students and the broader community.
Courtesy of Red Rock Central School District
Families & the Community A Small Town's Deep Affection for Its New School
A new school in a western Minnesota town of fewer than 800 residents was a full-community project, from start to finish.
Caitlynn Peetz, November 26, 2024
5 min read
Image of a water fountain with running water.
Jesse Martin Williams/iStock/Getty
School & District Management Many Schools Have Lead in Their Drinking Water. What the Feds Are Doing
A new federal rule cracks down on lead pipes in public water systems. But that focus is unlikely to have a limited effect in schools.
Mark Lieberman, October 15, 2024
5 min read
Photo of chained school doors.
istock
School Climate & Safety Opinion ‘Homemade’ Solutions to School Safety Can Be Fire Hazards. Here’s What to Know
With the threat of school shootings, it’s natural to guard against intruders. However, this urgency can lead to equally unsafe measures.
Lauris Freidenfelds, October 2, 2024
4 min read
An empty classroom with chairs, desks, and a green chalkboard, illuminated by sunlight, evoking education concept. 3D Rendering
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center Many Classrooms Lack Natural Light. Teachers Say That’s a Problem
Natural light is vital to the mental and physical health of students and teachers.
Arianna Prothero, September 30, 2024
5 min read
Pink Piggy Bank with a vote sticker on the back and a blurred Capitol building in the distance.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding Billions of Dollars for School Buildings Are on the Ballot This November
Several large districts and the state of California hope to capitalize on interest in the presidential election to pass big bonds.
Mark Lieberman, September 26, 2024
6 min read
School & District Management Video Tour a School Built to Stay Open in Extreme Weather
River Grove Elementary is built to stay open, with the lights on, as extreme weather strikes.
Caitlynn Peetz & Kaylee Domzalski, September 20, 2024
2 min read