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Blog - Voices from the field
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
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
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
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.
resource - Guide/Tool
American Lung Association
This tool provides a framework for school staff to evaluate and improve building health and efficiency through an Energy Efficient Indoor Air Quality Management Plan. It includes detailed checklists for building policies and physical walkthroughs, addressing critical factors like ventilation systems, hazardous materials management, and cost-effective energy use strategies to support student well-being.
resource - Case Study/Exemplar
American Lung Association
This case study describes an indoor air quality assessment in a small school district using sensors, walkthroughs, and surveys. It outlines methods for tracking pollutants like CO2 and VOCs to inform HVAC adjustments and management plans. The resource helps facilities staff understand how to leverage data despite resource constraints.
resource - Research/Report
American Lung Association
This report evaluates state laws and policies regarding school indoor air quality across seven areas, including ventilation, radon, and mold. It offers ten actionable recommendations to help state and local education agencies improve student health and energy efficiency through comprehensive management plans, transparency standards, and improved infrastructure maintenance.
resource - Research/Report
Perkins and Will
This report examines how school modernization affects educational outcomes and community well-being by studying 28 schools in Baltimore and DC. It details findings on Indoor Environmental Quality, Educational Adequacy, and Community Connectivity, demonstrating that modernized facilities significantly improve student test scores, enrollment, and occupant satisfaction while providing safer learning environments.