In this post, Jerry Roseman, MScIH, discusses the uses and limitations of Facility Condition Assessments, and makes the case that they need to be linked with additional information - including data gleaned from Maintenance & Operations (M&O) assessments, stakeholder input, and environmental condition assessments - in order to drive school building condition improvements.
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resource - Research/Report
California’s School Facilities in a Changing Climate: Funding, Equity, and Resilience
Sara Hinkley, Jeff Vincent
This study examines California’s K-12 school facility funding system amidst demographic shifts and climate change. It identifies wealth-based disparities in the state's capital funding program and highlights the growing threats posed by wildfires, extreme heat, and flooding. The study provides findings to inform state-level policy reforms.
Blog - Voices from the field
Educational Facility Master Plans Don’t Just Happen: 5 Keys to Success
William Savidge
William Savidge, an architect with 30 years of experience working in the educational facility field, describes five key elements that contribute to a successful Educational Facility Master Plan.
Blog - Voices from the field
Form Follows Function: The Role of Education Specifications in Supporting your District’s Education Goals
Mary Morris, AIA, REFP, LEED AP
Drawing on more than 30 years of experience working on educational facility projects, Mary Morris, AIA, REFP, LEED AP, describes what Education Specifications are and why they bring so many benefits to schools and districts, and provides sage advice on how to develop them to suit local needs.
Blog - Voices from the field
School Gardens: Building Inclusive Learning Spaces Through Participatory Design
Child Trends
Child Trends, a NCSI Consortium partner, promotes the well-being of children and youth through applied research that informs public policy. In this post, they share insights, examples, and resources on designing school gardens with particular attention to student engagement practices that create outdoor learning environments accessible to all.
Blog - Voices from the field
Reimagining School Grounds for Earth Day: Why Green Schoolyards Matter Now
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
Sharon Gamson Danks, the founder and CEO of Green Schoolyards America, shares insights from her decades-long commitment to helping schools and communities increase tree canopy, bring classrooms into the outdoors, and benefit from what research tells us is true: when students have access to verdant spaces, their health and their learning improve.
This article examines school security trends for 2026, focusing on the integration of mental health supports with behavioral threat assessment. It highlights emerging industry standards, the need for facility-specific security planning integrated with master planning, and the importance of human procedure over technology alone in mitigating identified security vulnerabilities.
resource - Guide/Tool
Green Campus Toolkit: Sustainable Strategies for Facilities & Operations
U.S. Green Building Council of California
This toolkit is a practical guide for integrating sustainability into school daily operations and long-term planning. It covers community engagement, environment quality, energy, water, waste, and green transportation. The guide helps schools create safer, more efficient, and environmentally responsible campuses through actionable strategies and drawing on best practices.
This video explains how indoor air quality impacts lung health and identifies common school pollutants. It details the physiological process of breathing and lists sources of indoor and outdoor contaminants. The resource provides practical strategies for school staff to improve air quality, such as source removal, ventilation, and air filtration.
resource - Research/Report
Fixing the Foundation: Uneven Access to Modern Schools and a Blueprint for a More Equitable Future
Anthony Clough, Benjamin Forman
This report examines how school facility conditions contribute to achievement gaps in Massachusetts, revealing that urban districts face significant disparities in access to modern buildings. It provides a detailed analysis of state funding processes and offers a seven-point blueprint for reform to ensure infrastructure equity for all students.