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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School & District Management Download How to Get the Feds to Pay After You Make Your School Buildings Greener
A little-known federal program could help pay for major school building upgrades that make facilities more sustainable.
Mark Lieberman & Francis Sheehan, October 13, 2023
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1 min read
Photo of excavator by new high school.
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School & District Management Schools Can Use These Little-Known, Unlimited Funds to Make Their Buildings Greener
Districts can reclaim a substantial portion of the cost of green building improvements through a little-known federal provision.
Mark Lieberman, October 10, 2023
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5 min read
Image of an evacuation plan.
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School & District Management MAP: How Much Voter Support Schools Need to Fix Their Buildings, by State
In most states, school district bonds can pass with support from a simple majority of voters. Ten states require more support.
Mark Lieberman, October 6, 2023
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3 min read
An excavator out in front of a school renovation site, with the entrance doors in the background
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School & District Management These School Building Improvements Are Most Likely to Boost Test Scores
Some facility upgrades can effectively close 10 percent of the achievement gap between high- and low-wealth districts, new research shows.
Mark Lieberman, October 5, 2023
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4 min read
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
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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
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