School Facilities & Design

Explainer

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What to Know About PCBs in Schools: A Visual Primer
Key facts about a toxic chemical that continues to contaminate older schools.
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Image of an excavator in front of a school building.
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Education Funding Do K-12 Students Have a Right to Well-Funded School Buildings?
The answer in a recent state court case wasn't exactly a "yes." But it also wasn't a "no." Here's what could happen next.
Mark Lieberman, September 19, 2023
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5 min read
Image of a brick wall and glass blocks.
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School & District Management Finding the Source of PCB Contamination in Schools Just Got Easier
Researchers say they have found a promising method to determine where in school buildings the PCB contamination is greatest.
Mark Lieberman, September 15, 2023
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7 min read
Students beat the heat by eating lunch outside on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, on the front Steps of South Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Pa.
Students beat the heat by eating lunch outside on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, on the front steps of South Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Pa. Dozens of city schools closed early the first week of September due to the heat.
Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
Student Well-Being The School Year Started Off Hot. Experts Say It Wasn't a Fluke
Experts recommend that schools look seriously at HVAC overhauls, but also shorter-term measures to fend off and prepare for extreme heat.
Caitlynn Peetz, September 8, 2023
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4 min read
Close crop of the earth and a thermometer showing extreme hot temperature all in the haze of yellow and orange colors.
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Student Well-Being What Educators Need to Know About Schools and Hot Weather
As record-setting high temperatures become the new normal, schools struggle to keep their students cool.
Arianna Prothero, August 16, 2023
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4 min read
Illustration of gears
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School & District Management AI Could Save School Districts Time and Money—If They Use It Correctly
Technology experts believe artificial intelligence tools could help districts on everything from facilities to recruitment.
Mark Lieberman, August 10, 2023
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7 min read
Smoke rises from mountain ridges as a wildfire burns while buses sit idle at the high school on Oct. 22, 2020, in Granby, Colo.
Smoke rises from mountain ridges as a wildfire burns near a high school in Granby, Colo., on Oct. 22, 2020, in Granby, Colo.
David Zalubowski/AP
School & District Management Polluted Skies and High Heat Expose School Facility Issues, Threaten Students' Health
Growing threats from climate change place a heavy burden on schools.
Elizabeth Heubeck, August 8, 2023
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4 min read
School girl waiting for bus, with backpack, with hot sun beating down.
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School & District Management Got AC? How Schools Are Coping With Record-Breaking Temperatures
No AC, sweating at bus stops, and sizzling playground equipment are among schools' concerns.
Elizabeth Heubeck & Caitlyn Meisner, July 28, 2023
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4 min read
Kids play in an outdoor playground at the Jefferson Early Learning Center in the Alief Independent School District in Texas.
Kids play in an outdoor playground at the Jefferson Early Learning Center in the Alief Independent School District in Texas.
Courtesy of PBK
School & District Management Q&A Could the Design of Your School Be Hurting Attendance?
An expert argues that one way to improve student attendance is to do a better job designing schools.
Lauraine Langreo, July 25, 2023
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4 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Education Funding Opinion Education Funders Need to Ditch the Savior Complex
Trust in the input from teachers, staff, community, and students will go a long way toward making initiatives successful.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 21, 2023
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12 min read
Caution tape and caution signs surround Burlington High School in Burlington, Vt., on May 9, 2021.
Caution tape and caution signs surround Burlington High School in Burlington, Vt., on May 9, 2021.
Luke Awtry for Education Week
Law & Courts Vermont Is First State to Sue Monsanto Over PCBs in Schools
Vermont officials are demanding compensation for the costs of testing and remediating the toxic chemical in schools.
Mark Lieberman, June 21, 2023
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4 min read
Students in a 10th grade English class at Pelham Memorial High School look outside the windows of their classroom on June 7, 2023, in Pelham, NY., as a yellow haze of smoke from wildfires in Canada blanket the area.
Students in a 10th grade English class at Pelham Memorial High School in Pelham, N.Y., look outside the windows of their classroom on June 7, 2023. Intense Canadian wildfires are blanketing the northeastern U.S. in a dystopian haze, forcing schools to decide whether to call off classes or take less drastic measures, like canceling outdoor activities.
Will Zammit-Miller via AP
Student Well-Being Wildfire Haze and Poor Air Quality: Here's How Schools Are Responding
Children are particularly at risk from smoky skies, forcing school leaders to decide whether to cancel school or take less drastic measures.
Caitlynn Peetz, June 8, 2023
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4 min read
Students arrive for school at John Lewis Elementary School in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16, 2022.
Students arrive for school at John Lewis Elementary School in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16, 2022.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Student Well-Being Video Designing Schools That Support Student and Staff Well-Being
Architecture and design can play significant roles in the health and well-being of students and staff.
May 2, 2023
Wellness Center nurse Lynda Boyer-Chu holds a Juul vaporizer and cartridge she uses to help teach students the dangers of vaping, in her office at Washington High School in San Francisco, Calif, on Thursday, September 5, 2019.
Wellness Center nurse Lynda Boyer-Chu holds a Juul vaporizer and cartridge she uses to help teach students the dangers of vaping, in her office at Washington High School in San Francisco, Calif, on Sept. 5, 2019. More school districts are purchasing vape detectors with funds they're receiving through settlements with the e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs.
Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Student Well-Being Schools Are Installing Vape Detectors and Using Juul Settlement Money to Pay for It
Schools are turning to technology that notifies staff that students may be vaping.
Caitlynn Peetz, April 19, 2023
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5 min read
A large tree offers shade over the picnic tables in the Senior Courtyard at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Va., on March 1, 2023. Students often use the outdoor space to eat lunch on sunny days.
A large tree offers shade over the picnic tables in the Senior Courtyard at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Va., on March 1, 2023. Students often use the outdoor space to eat lunch on sunny days.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week
Student Well-Being 5 Tips for Designing School Spaces That Support Students' Mental Health
School buildings can have a big impact on students' mental health. Here's how schools can make sure it's positive.
Libby Stanford & Laura Baker, April 6, 2023
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3 min read
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