California’s School Facilities in a Changing Climate: Funding, Equity, and Resilience

This study, part of the Getting Down to Facts III project led by Stanford University, describes the structural inequities and emerging demands facing California’s public school infrastructure. It is intended for policymakers and stakeholders navigating facility issues related to funding, equity, and climate resilience. The report analyzes the state’s capital funding program (School Facility Program (SFP)) and identifies how its “first-come, first-served” model reinforces local property wealth disparities.

Key takeaways include the impact of four major developments: the expansion of universal transitional kindergarten, declining enrollment, secondary education redesign, and escalating climate disruptions. The report documents that climate-related events account for nearly 80 percent of emergency school closures, totaling over 10,000 days of lost instructional time since 2015. Notable findings highlight that high-heat and wildfire risks are unevenly distributed, with inland, low-income districts facing the greatest cooling infrastructure gaps.

The report offers guidance on the need for a statewide facility data infrastructure, noting that California lacks a comprehensive building inventory or systematic condition assessments. It suggests that future policy must move toward need-based targeting and climate-resilient standards to ensure all students have access to safe, healthy, and educationally adequate learning environments.