Research/Report
Barbara Biasi, Julien Lafortune, David Schönholzer
This paper identifies which investments in school facilities help students and are valued by homeowners.
Research/Report
Bellweather
This report highlights inequities in school facility funding. Local districts, covering 77% of construction costs, rely on bonds and levies, disadvantaging low-income communities. While 90% of states offer some support, methods vary. Without consistent state investment, disparities persist.
Research/Report
Urban Institute
This report examines inequities in school facility funding across the U.S., particularly affecting low-income students. It finds that these students are less likely to attend well-maintained schools and live in underfunded districts.
Research/Report
National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE)
This report suggests that inadequate indoor environmental quality has a negative impact on student health and academic performance. Many school facilities are in disrepair, with over half of U.S. school districts requiring upgrades, which severely affects those with limited financial resources.
Research/Report
Center for Cities + Schools (CC + S)
This paper examines the adequacy of investment in California’s public school facilities from 2009-2019. It analyzes maintenance and capital investment levels, revealing challenges in upkeep, modernization, and deferred maintenance issues.
Research/Report
Barbara Biasi, Julien Lafortune, David Schönholzer
This study explores school capital expenditures over two decades, highlighting within-state disparities between high- and low-income districts, which decreased post-Great Recession.
Research/Report
International WELL Building Institute, National Council on School Facilities (NCSF), 21st Century School Fund (21CSF)
This national report finds an $85 billion annual underinvestment in U.S. PK–12 public school infrastructure. It calls for equitable investment and collaborative efforts to modernize facilities and ensure quality education for all students.
Article
Erika M. Kitzmiller and Akira Drake Rodriguez
This commentary considers the wide variance in school building quality in communities around the nation, noting that historical underinvestment in school facility capital and maintenance has created unhealthy school buildings across the nation.
Research/Report
Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC)
This policy brief examines the link between school construction and segregation, detailing historical policies from desegregation court cases.
Research/Report
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
This report finds that over half of U.S. school districts need to update or replace major building systems such as HVAC, documenting related health and infrastructure concerns across states.