Don’t forget about the physical infrastructure of America’s K-12 schools

The American Rescue Plan provides an historic federal investment at a crucial moment for America’s K-12 public schools. The funds are providing critical support for principals as they face an array of pressing challenges: expanding summer learning opportunities, implementing academic recovery interventions and addressing a wide range of student mental health needs. But to unleash the plan’s enormous potential and fully maximize student learning, Congress must also address an issue that preceded the pandemic: outdated and crumbling K-12 facilities due to decades of underinvestment. As negotiations on infrastructure continue, we are urging the inclusion of $100 billion in direct grants and $30 billion in bonds for K-12 public school facilities — consistent with the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act. 

The neglect of K-12 school infrastructure hampers tens of thousands of schools throughout the country, posing significant health and safety risks to millions of students. According to the 2016 State of Our Schools Report, state and local governments underfund K-12 facilities by $46 billion annually. A recent Government Accountability Office study paints a troubling picture: in about one quarter of all school districts, at least half of their schools needed upgrades or replacements to major building systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, plumbing, wiring, or windows. The study also found 41 percent of districts need to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half of their schools. A leaking roof or HVAC system can cause water damage, exposing students and staff to mold or asbestos.

We remain deeply concerned about the disproportionate impact that disinvestment in school facilities has on low-income school districts. Without a robust local tax base, these districts face extended backlogs and deferred maintenance of their building systems. The result is millions of students attending school in buildings in need of major repairs and upgrades, creating unsafe conditions that depress student and educator performance. By prioritizing school facilities, Congress and the Biden administration would be making a strong commitment to equity.

Boosting K-12 school infrastructure should be viewed as complementary to American Rescue Plan funding and core to the recovery work already underway in schools. While American Rescue Plan funds are being deployed to bolster academic recovery efforts — such as high-intensity tutoring, accelerated learning programs, and summer learning and enrichment — as well as to address student mental health challenges, these are only pieces of a larger student support puzzle. Our members are working vigorously to marshal the plan’s funds to meet these needs, but to thrive, students also need safe and healthy learning environments. By investing in K-12 infrastructure, Congress can help bring America’s school buildings into the 21st century, chart a new course for K-12 education, and help ensure schools emerge from this difficult period even stronger.

Dr. L. Earl Franks, CAE, is a veteran association executive and advocate for public education and school leadership with over three decades of pre-K–12 education experience.

Ronn Nozoe is a lifelong educator with significant experience in policy development at state and federal levels. In his home state of Hawaii, he has served as deputy state superintendent, district superintendent, principal, vice principal and teacher.