The National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) is a national resource hub. We connect people, resources, and ideas so that state and school district leaders across the country can develop and implement solutions to modernize their school buildings and grounds.
School facilities can be vibrant learning environments that spark creativity, empower educators, and bring communities together. Yet across our nation, aging and deteriorating school facilities are holding students back. The challenge of upgrading school facilities is complex, but through collaboration and coordination, state and school district leaders can develop solutions that work for their communities.
National Center on School Infrastructure
Are you seeking data to guide decision-making about school facility maintenance and capital planning? Join this webinar to learn about Facility Condition Assessments (FCA), which evaluate a school’s physical conditions and functional performance.
Our comprehensive resource library offers easy access to tools, research, policy, reports, data sets, news, and case studies.
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Search our full library and filter to find what you need:
High-quality research, guidance, and practical tools for building, maintaining, and improving school buildings and grounds.
Guide/Tool
Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health
This guide provides an evidence-based roadmap for state and local leaders to strengthen indoor air quality policy, protect public health, and reduce disease transmission. Accompanying the guide are three action plans: one for governors, one for state health departments, and one for schools.
Resource Hub
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, New Buildings Institute
The Efficient and Healthy Schools Program offers customized support for K-12 schools and districts, helping them build capacity to enhance energy efficiency and create a better learning environment.
Research/Report
UndauntedK12, EdTrust
This report examines the January 2025 wildfire-related school closures in Los Angeles, and the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable student groups. The report offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, education leaders, and community members to build resilient schools.
Resource Hub
Children and Nature Network
This resource hub from the Children and Nature Network hosts an array of toolkits, guides, case studies, and research that can help school leaders identify pathways for designing, funding, and implementing green schoolyards and outdoor learning environments.
Research/Report
Barbara Biasi, Julien Lafortune, David Schönholzer
This paper identifies which investments in school facilities help students and are valued by homeowners.
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Explore updates from NCSI on our blog, browse upcoming events, and catch up on the latest facilities news from around the country.
Featured resource
UndauntedK12
Recent changes to federal energy tax credits have introduced new rules and deadlines for solar energy projects, storage projects, electric school buses, and EV chargers. However, the credit for ground-source heat pumps remains unchanged, offering a valuable opportunity for schools to improve classroom environments.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
In a small office tucked inside Utah’s State Board of Education (USBE), one person – Dean Dykstra, Utah’s School Construction and Facilities Specialist – is responsible for the long-term health, safety, and construction compliance of over 1,000 public school buildings across 43 school districts and 140 charter schools statewide.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
For economist Julien Lafortune, school facilities are not just bricks and mortar. They are foundational to how students experience school, how communities value education, and how improved educational outcomes can be achieved.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
William Merritt IV has been with Jackson Public Schools for 22 years. As Chief of Staff, he stands at the intersection of leadership, logistics, and long-term vision for the district. With roughly 18,000 students and over 30 school buildings — many of which are more than 65 years old — Merritt is leading conversations that…
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
Tyler Puls is proof that smart budgeting and sustainability go hand in hand. As the Energy and Environmental Specialist at Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), he’s been helping the district save energy, cut costs, and create healthier, more comfortable learning environments for over a decade.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
In the small community of Belvidere, Illinois, Jo Ann Armstrong is redefining what it means to lead a school district. As the Chief Financial and Operations Officer for District 100, Armstrong wears many hats—and has taken on the challenge of transforming aging facility infrastructure, outdated school design, and inequitable access into an opportunity for meaningful…
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
As Director of Sustainability at Austin Independent School District (AISD), Darien Clary has spent nearly a decade building a program that embeds sustainability deep into the heart of a major urban school district.
Featured resource
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
An interview with Mary Filardo of 21CSF on tools that NCSI is creating to support decision-makers and advance shared knowledge about school facilities.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
Darnell Deans is proof that the best operations leaders are part visionary, part realist, and all heart. He’s not waiting for perfect conditions—he’s building smarter systems today so that his district can thrive tomorrow.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
From the classrooms of western Virginia to the state capitol in Richmond, Superintendent Keith Perrigan is leading with urgency, creativity, and resolve. His work is a testament to what can happen when local leaders join forces, advocate boldly, and refuse to let rural communities be left behind.
Find best practice guides, training materials, and reports issued by U.S. agencies and offices.
Information on federal funding, recognition, and training programs.
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Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Businesses and tax-exempt organizations, including schools, can claim the Investment Tax Credit (Sec 48) for ground-source heat pump (aka geothermal heat pump) projects.
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U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
The Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign is a voluntary partnership and technical assistance program offered by the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Businesses and tax-exempt organizations that buy a qualified commercial clean vehicle may qualify for a tax credit of up to $40,000 under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 45W.