Protecting Californians with Heat-Resilient Schools

This policy brief outlines five key action areas to make California’s schools more resilient to extreme heat. Grounded in the state’s 2022 Extreme Heat Action Plan and the equity goals of the Quality Schooling Framework, the brief emphasizes the need to: (1) track how schools experience heat and evaluate existing cooling measures; (2) establish a statewide indoor temperature limit based on children’s health and learning needs; (3) implement engineered and nature-based solutions to cool schoolyards; (4) use behavioral strategies to manage indoor heat exposure; and (5) identify and address funding gaps that prevent effective interventions. For each area, the brief reviews the current status and provides specific, actionable recommendations. With a clear focus on California’s policy landscape, the brief serves as a strategic roadmap for state and local decision-makers, education leaders, and advocates working to ensure that all students—especially those in underserved communities—can learn in safe, healthy environments as climate risks increase.